WEBVTT 00:00.800 --> 00:03.250 NATO or the North Atlantic Treaty 00:03.259 --> 00:05.369 Organization was founded in the 00:05.380 --> 00:08.090 aftermath of the Second World War to 00:08.100 --> 00:10.510 maintain peace and freedom and prevent 00:10.520 --> 00:11.270 conflict. 00:16.569 --> 00:19.770 In 1949, facing a growing threat from 00:19.780 --> 00:22.809 the Soviet Union, 12 countries from 00:22.819 --> 00:24.819 Europe and North America signed a 00:24.829 --> 00:27.139 treaty committing to the principle of 00:27.149 --> 00:30.250 collective defense. An attack against 00:30.260 --> 00:32.038 one of these countries would be 00:32.038 --> 00:34.038 considered an attack against all of 00:34.038 --> 00:37.799 them. Since then, NATO has helped to 00:37.810 --> 00:39.810 preserve peace for its members by 00:39.819 --> 00:42.360 providing a unique forum for dialogue, 00:42.369 --> 00:44.569 peaceful resolution of disputes and 00:44.580 --> 00:46.680 cooperation on a wide range of 00:46.689 --> 00:49.520 political and security related issues 00:50.700 --> 00:52.939 and also by deterring aggression from 00:52.950 --> 00:54.459 potential adversaries. 00:58.500 --> 01:01.490 Today NATO has 32 member countries 01:01.500 --> 01:03.900 from Europe and North America known as 01:03.909 --> 01:06.830 allies. NATO'S founding treaty allows 01:06.839 --> 01:08.895 for other European countries to join 01:08.895 --> 01:11.080 the alliance as long as all existing 01:11.089 --> 01:13.449 members agree and requirements are met. 01:15.040 --> 01:17.620 Aspiring members must share NATO's core 01:17.629 --> 01:20.660 values of individual liberty, human 01:20.669 --> 01:24.540 rights, democracy, and the rule of 01:24.550 --> 01:27.819 law and also adhere to the principles 01:27.830 --> 01:31.370 of the United Nations Charter. They 01:31.379 --> 01:34.209 have to fulfill political, economic, and 01:34.220 --> 01:36.889 military obligations including being 01:36.900 --> 01:39.330 able to contribute to the security of 01:39.339 --> 01:43.209 the Euro Atlantic area. They 01:43.220 --> 01:45.449 must also have a functioning democratic 01:45.459 --> 01:47.709 political system and be committed to 01:47.720 --> 01:49.889 preventing crises and conflicts. 01:50.389 --> 01:52.879 NATO's enlargement promotes stability 01:52.889 --> 01:55.209 and co-operation and contributes to 01:55.220 --> 01:58.199 building a Europe whole and free united 01:58.209 --> 02:01.790 in peace and democracy. NATO 02:01.800 --> 02:04.309 works with a wide network of non-member 02:04.319 --> 02:06.375 countries across the globe which are 02:06.375 --> 02:10.229 called NATO partners. The alliance 02:10.240 --> 02:12.529 also collaborates closely with other 02:12.539 --> 02:14.880 international organizations such as the 02:14.889 --> 02:17.559 European Union and the United Nations 02:17.570 --> 02:20.039 to contribute to peace and security. 02:20.460 --> 02:22.710 These organizations and partner 02:22.720 --> 02:24.869 countries team up with NATO on many 02:24.880 --> 02:27.880 activities including military training, 02:27.889 --> 02:31.339 exercises, crisis prevention and 02:31.350 --> 02:34.779 management, information sharing, and 02:34.789 --> 02:37.369 much more. These partnerships allow 02:37.380 --> 02:39.809 NATO and its partners to tackle common 02:39.820 --> 02:43.009 challenges like terrorism, cyber 02:43.020 --> 02:45.139 attacks, or climate change. 02:46.199 --> 02:48.279 Cooperating with partners that share 02:48.289 --> 02:50.589 NATO's core values contributes to 02:50.600 --> 02:52.830 stability beyond our borders and 02:52.839 --> 02:54.949 enhances our security at home. 02:57.029 --> 02:59.369 When you hear the word NATO, you 02:59.380 --> 03:02.509 probably think of planes, battleships, 03:02.520 --> 03:05.889 and armies, but the true heart of NATO 03:05.899 --> 03:09.820 is consensus. NATO is a place where 03:09.830 --> 03:12.020 countries come together to discuss 03:12.029 --> 03:15.100 security issues and agree on common 03:15.110 --> 03:18.199 responses. All member countries are 03:18.210 --> 03:20.240 represented equally in the North 03:20.250 --> 03:22.740 Atlantic Council. The chief political 03:22.750 --> 03:25.059 decision making body of the alliance. 03:25.830 --> 03:28.759 Decisions are agreed by all allies. 03:29.190 --> 03:31.429 This means that when NATO acts, it 03:31.440 --> 03:33.839 reflects the collective will of all its 03:33.850 --> 03:37.350 members. NATO is also the only place 03:37.360 --> 03:39.416 that brings Europe and North America 03:39.416 --> 03:42.649 together every day to address issues 03:42.660 --> 03:44.970 related to our security and defense. 03:44.979 --> 03:47.360 Demonstrating with concrete actions 03:47.369 --> 03:50.710 our strong transatlantic bond. There 03:50.720 --> 03:54.639 is no NATO army. NATO relies on member 03:54.649 --> 03:57.419 states to contribute forces. Every 03:57.429 --> 03:59.651 country brings something to the table, 03:59.651 --> 04:02.500 from troops and tanks to submarines and 04:02.509 --> 04:05.699 fighter jets. Allies effectively work 04:05.710 --> 04:08.479 together by using NATO standards which 04:08.490 --> 04:10.860 range from ammunition sizes to the 04:10.869 --> 04:13.160 words that troops use to communicate. 04:13.470 --> 04:16.170 Allies also volunteer to lead military 04:16.179 --> 04:19.260 exercises and host NATO facilities on 04:19.269 --> 04:21.760 their territory, ensuring security 04:21.769 --> 04:23.880 across the Euro Atlantic area. 04:25.410 --> 04:27.920 Every NATO country contributes to the 04:27.929 --> 04:30.549 costs of running the alliance based on 04:30.559 --> 04:33.260 a calculation linked to gross national 04:33.269 --> 04:36.769 income and every member also 04:36.779 --> 04:38.835 contributes with a percentage of its 04:38.835 --> 04:41.309 budget and provides forces and 04:41.320 --> 04:45.299 capabilities to NATO. Allies 04:45.309 --> 04:47.579 share the costs of NATO's operations 04:47.589 --> 04:50.309 and missions, headquarters, command 04:50.320 --> 04:53.079 structure and jointly owned equipment. 04:54.230 --> 04:56.760 In certain cases, groups of allies can 04:56.769 --> 04:59.239 also build new initiatives like its 04:59.250 --> 05:01.940 multinational fund to support research 05:01.950 --> 05:03.839 and investments in cutting edge 05:03.850 --> 05:06.260 technology. These funds ensure that 05:06.269 --> 05:08.510 NATO can fulfill its main mission, 05:09.470 --> 05:12.089 safeguarding the freedom and security 05:12.100 --> 05:15.950 of all its members every day using 05:15.959 --> 05:18.130 both political and military tools. 05:18.140 --> 05:21.049 NATO can respond to large scale crises 05:21.059 --> 05:23.709 including conflict, natural disasters 05:23.720 --> 05:26.399 or humanitarian emergencies. For 05:26.410 --> 05:28.910 example, NATO and its partners help 05:28.920 --> 05:31.049 build security and stability in the 05:31.059 --> 05:33.690 Western Balkans and cooperate to fight 05:33.700 --> 05:36.149 terrorism. NATO also provides 05:36.160 --> 05:38.359 assistance during various emergencies 05:38.369 --> 05:40.769 affecting people like devastating 05:40.779 --> 05:44.350 flooding pandemics or earthquakes, 05:45.269 --> 05:47.809 Following Russia's full scale invasion 05:47.820 --> 05:51.230 of Ukraine in 2022, NATO enhanced the 05:51.239 --> 05:53.350 security and protection of its 1 05:53.359 --> 05:55.679 billion citizens by reinforcing its 05:55.690 --> 05:59.429 presence in the air and sea and on land 05:59.440 --> 06:01.551 in the eastern part of the alliance. 06:02.470 --> 06:05.429 NATO also helps to prevent crises both 06:05.440 --> 06:07.850 by diplomatic means and by deterring 06:07.859 --> 06:10.290 aggression. The strength and unity of 06:10.299 --> 06:12.470 allies who are committed to collective 06:12.480 --> 06:14.910 defense sends a powerful message, 06:14.920 --> 06:17.390 discouraging any potential adversaries 06:17.399 --> 06:19.510 from attacking a NATO member country 06:21.149 --> 06:24.000 today. Russia is the most significant 06:24.010 --> 06:26.200 and direct threat to the alliance 06:26.209 --> 06:29.950 security using conventional cyber and 06:29.959 --> 06:32.109 hybrid means in an attempt to 06:32.119 --> 06:34.890 destabilize NATO and its partners, 06:35.420 --> 06:37.510 Russia's war against Ukraine has 06:37.519 --> 06:40.750 shattered peace in Europe. Terrorism 06:40.760 --> 06:42.820 continues to represent a global 06:42.829 --> 06:45.350 security challenge conflict and 06:45.359 --> 06:47.415 instability in Africa and the Middle 06:47.415 --> 06:49.989 East directly causing large scale 06:50.000 --> 06:53.420 migration and loss of life. The impact 06:53.429 --> 06:55.589 of climate change, unstable 06:55.600 --> 06:58.519 institutions, health emergencies, and 06:58.529 --> 07:00.989 food insecurity in these regions can 07:01.000 --> 07:03.309 also lead to the growth of terrorist 07:03.320 --> 07:06.399 groups. China's military build up and 07:06.410 --> 07:08.959 coercive policies challenge NATO's 07:08.970 --> 07:12.529 interests, security, and values. Its 07:12.540 --> 07:15.220 malicious hybrid and cyber operations 07:15.230 --> 07:17.459 including disinformation campaigns, 07:17.470 --> 07:20.359 targeting allies, and threatening our security. 07:21.170 --> 07:23.429 NATO is also faced with security 07:23.440 --> 07:25.607 challenges from the development of new 07:25.607 --> 07:27.500 technologies like artificial 07:27.510 --> 07:29.890 intelligence, the erosion of arms 07:29.899 --> 07:32.329 control agreements, and threats to 07:32.339 --> 07:36.309 energy supplies. Since the alliance 07:36.320 --> 07:37.876 was founded, the world has 07:37.876 --> 07:40.720 fundamentally changed. But NATO's main 07:40.730 --> 07:43.390 goal remains unchanged. Year after 07:43.399 --> 07:45.540 year, the alliance will continue to 07:45.549 --> 07:47.799 adapt to keep its citizens safe, 07:47.809 --> 07:49.929 remaining ready to face tomorrow's 07:49.940 --> 07:50.809 challenges.