North Atlantic Treaty facts for kids
The North Atlantic Treaty is a very important agreement. It created an organization called NATO. NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This treaty was signed in Washington, DC on April 4, 1949. It brought together several countries to work for peace and safety.
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What is the North Atlantic Treaty?
The North Atlantic Treaty is like a promise between countries. It says that if one member country is attacked, all other members will help defend it. This idea is called "collective defense." The treaty was signed after World War II. Countries wanted to prevent future conflicts and protect each other.
Who Signed the Treaty?
When the treaty was first signed in 1949, 12 countries became founding members of NATO. These countries were:
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
United Kingdom
United States
Later Members of NATO
Over the years, more countries joined NATO. They also agreed to the rules of the North Atlantic Treaty. Here are some of the countries that joined later and when they did:
Greece (1952)
Turkey (1952)
West Germany (1955)
Spain (1982)
Czech Republic (1999)
Hungary (1999)
Poland (1999)
Bulgaria (2004)
Estonia (2004)
Latvia (2004)
Lithuania (2004)
Romania (2004)
Slovakia (2004)
Slovenia (2004)
When Germany became one country again in 1990, the whole country remained a member of NATO.
The Most Important Rule: Article V
The most important part of the North Atlantic Treaty is called Article V. This rule says that an attack against one NATO country is an attack against all of them. This means if one member is attacked, all other members must come to its aid.
When Was Article V Used?
The treaty was created with the Soviet Union in mind. Countries worried about a possible attack on Western Europe. However, this mutual defense rule was never used during the Cold War. The Cold War was a long period of tension between the Soviet Union and its allies, and the United States and its allies.
Article V was used for the first time in 2001. This happened after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. These attacks targeted the World Trade Center in New York City and The Pentagon near Washington, D.C. After these attacks, NATO members agreed to help the United States.
Treaty Approval in the U.S.
In the United States, the Senate had to approve the treaty. They voted on July 21, 1949. The Senate approved the treaty with a vote of 82 to 13. This meant the U.S. officially joined the agreement.
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See also
In Spanish: Tratado del Atlántico Norte para niños
