One of the most influential factors in US foreign policy is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, which serves as a military alliance between the US and other North American and European powers. Formed in response to the spread of Soviet influence, NATO continues today to ensure the defense of its member states.
Following World War II, the world became split between the Western nations and the Communist Eastern bloc, headed by the US and USSR respectively. During this postwar period, the USSR began expanding their influence into neighboring states and instituting satellite governments throughout Eastern Europe. In response, the US and its allies sought a policy of containment, which meant opposing the spread of Communist influence and finding ways to prevent its further expansion. By 1948, the Western powers became increasingly concerned as a USSR sponsored coup overthrew the democratic government of Czechoslovakia and the USSR cut off ground access to Berlin, prompting the Berlin airlift. By April of 1949, foreign ministers from 12 countries in North America and Western Europe signed the North Atlantic Treaty. The original members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, were Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States. The treaty served as a security pact which stated that an attack against one member country …show more content…
The Communist North Korean invasion of the South led the member states to coordinate their defense forces to oppose the Communist spread. Other NATO operations include targeting the Army of Republika Srpska in Bosnia (1992-2004), air campaigns in Kosovo and Serbia (1999), and anti-terrorism operations in the Middle East in response to the 11 September terrorist attacks (2001-present). Even after the Cold War, NATO continues to be a prominent and influential part of U.S. Foreign
Following World War II, the world became split between the Western nations and the Communist Eastern bloc, headed by the US and USSR respectively. During this postwar period, the USSR began expanding their influence into neighboring states and instituting satellite governments throughout Eastern Europe. In response, the US and its allies sought a policy of containment, which meant opposing the spread of Communist influence and finding ways to prevent its further expansion. By 1948, the Western powers became increasingly concerned as a USSR sponsored coup overthrew the democratic government of Czechoslovakia and the USSR cut off ground access to Berlin, prompting the Berlin airlift. By April of 1949, foreign ministers from 12 countries in North America and Western Europe signed the North Atlantic Treaty. The original members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, were Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States. The treaty served as a security pact which stated that an attack against one member country …show more content…
The Communist North Korean invasion of the South led the member states to coordinate their defense forces to oppose the Communist spread. Other NATO operations include targeting the Army of Republika Srpska in Bosnia (1992-2004), air campaigns in Kosovo and Serbia (1999), and anti-terrorism operations in the Middle East in response to the 11 September terrorist attacks (2001-present). Even after the Cold War, NATO continues to be a prominent and influential part of U.S. Foreign