Founded in 1949 as a xxxxxx against the Soviet Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) remains the pillar of U.S.-Europe military cooperation. NATO’s scope has widened since the close of the Cold War to beyond the Euro-Atlantic region, into countries such as Afghanistan and Libya.

In recent years, attention has shifted to NATO’s eastern periphery in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, driving up defense spending and pushing longtime partners, namely Finland and Sweden, to seek full membership.

Learn more from CFR experts on the complex relationship between NATO members, potential members, and nonmembers.

What Is NATO?

Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow

NATO’s mission pivoted after the Cold War, leading to an expansion in membership and renewed purpose in the twenty-first century. Explore how the alliance has changed

Nuclear Weapons in Europe: Mapping U.S. and Russian Deployments

Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow

Russia’s threat to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus has raised the specter of a new nuclear standoff with the United States and its allies in Europe. It also draws new attention to how such arms are deployed in NATO states. Learn where nuclear weapons are stationed across Europe

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