Context:
In anticipation of the NATO summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed Ukraine’s intention to become a member of the alliance.
About NATO:
- Formed in 1949
- Military and Security alliance.
- Established by the North Atlantic Treaty.
- Derives authority from article 51 of the UN charter
- 31 member states (Finland was the last country to join)
- Headquarters -Brussels, Belgium.
- Original members – Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- 3 Alliances of NATO –
- Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)
- Mediterranean Dialogue
- Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI)
- Article 5– If an armed attack occurs against one of the members, it is regarded as an attack on all member states collectively.
- Significance –
- Promotes democratic values and encourages cooperation between member countries.
- Played a crucial role in crisis management in the region.
- Helped to maintain peace and stability in the region among member countries.
NATO-India Political Dialogue:
- India’s 1st political dialogue with NATO in 2019.
- India’s view – “NATO template does not apply to India”.
NATO Plus:
- Refers to a security arrangement of NATO
- 5 treaty allies of the U.S. — Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea.
- Goal – To enhance “global defence cooperation” and win the “strategic competition against China.
- Not an officially recognised or established concept within NATO.
Related Organisations:
Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO):
- Formation – 1955
- Mutual security organization.
- Members – Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom.
- Headquarters – Ankara.
- Objective – Counter the threats of Soviet expansion.
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, (SEATO):
- Formation – 1954.
- Under the Manila pact 1954.
- Intergovernmental military organisation.
- Members – United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan.
- Headquarters – Bangkok.
- Objective – prevent the spread of communism in the Southeast Asian countries.
Source: The Hindu
