Editing NATO (section)

===Enlargement===
{{Main|Enlargement of NATO}}
{{Stack|[[File:History of NATO enlargement.svg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|NATO has added 16 new members since [[German reunification]] and the end of the [[Cold War]].|alt=A map of Europe with countries labelled in shades of blue, green, and yellow based on when they joined NATO.]]}}

NATO was established on 4 April 1949 by the signing of the [[North Atlantic Treaty]] (Washington Treaty). The 12 founding members of the alliance were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NATO |title=Member countries |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52044.htm |access-date=29 June 2022 |website=NATO |language=en |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329231751/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52044.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Four new members joined during the Cold War: Greece (1952), Turkey (1952), [[West Germany]] (1955) and Spain (1982). Following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], many former [[Warsaw Pact]] and [[post-Soviet states]] sought membership. In 1990, the territory of the former [[East Germany]] was added with the [[German reunification|reunification of Germany]]. At the [[1999 Washington summit]], Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic officially joined, and NATO issued new guidelines for membership, with individualized "[[Membership Action Plan]]s". These plans governed the addition of new members: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia in 2004, Albania and Croatia in 2009, Montenegro in 2017, and North Macedonia in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=NATO|title=Relations with the Republic of North Macedonia (Archived)|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_48830.htm|access-date=16 February 2022 |website=NATO |language=en|archive-date=10 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310022112/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_48830.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Finland and Sweden are the newest members, joining on 4 April 2023 and 7 March 2024 respectively, spurred on by [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65173043 |title=NATO's border with Russia doubles as Finland joins |work=BBC News |date=4 April 2023 |access-date=4 April 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404150315/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65173043 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="swe-membership-final"/>

[[Ukraine–NATO relations|Ukraine's relationship with NATO]] began with the NATO–Ukraine Action Plan in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_49290.htm |title=NATO Topics: Individual Partnership Action Plans |publisher=NATO |access-date=29 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310015635/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_49290.htm |archive-date=10 March 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, under President [[Viktor Yanukovych]], Ukraine re-affirmed its non-aligned status and renounced aspirations of joining NATO.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/yanukovych-signs-law-declaring-ukraines-non-aligne-73680.html |title=Yanukovych signs law declaring Ukraine's non-aligned status |work=[[Kyiv Post]] |date=15 July 2010 |access-date=25 February 2022 |archive-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202025840/https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/yanukovych-signs-law-declaring-ukraines-non-aligne-73680.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[2014 Ukrainian Revolution]], Russia [[Russian occupation of Crimea|occupied Crimea]] and supported [[Russian separatist forces in Ukraine|armed separatists in eastern Ukraine]]. As a result, in December 2014 Ukraine's parliament voted to end its non-aligned status,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine drops non-aligned status in swipe at Moscow |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20141223-ukraine-parliament-votes-scrap-non-aligned-status-russia-nato |work=[[France 24]] |date=23 December 2014 |access-date=8 March 2024 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308140645/https://www.france24.com/en/20141223-ukraine-parliament-votes-scrap-non-aligned-status-russia-nato |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2019 it enshrined the goal of NATO membership in the [[Constitution of Ukraine|Constitution]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine's parliament backs changes to Constitution confirming Ukraine's path toward EU, NATO |url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10437570-ukraine-s-parliament-backs-changes-to-constitution-confirming-ukraine-s-path-toward-eu-nato.html |work=[[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency]] |date=7 February 2019 |access-date=7 March 2024 |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215054226/https://www.unian.info/politics/10437570-ukraine-s-parliament-backs-changes-to-constitution-confirming-ukraine-s-path-toward-eu-nato.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The law amending the Constitution on the course of accession to the EU and NATO has entered into force {{!}} European integration portal|url=https://eu-ua.org/novyny/zakon-pro-zminy-do-konstytuciyi-shchodo-kursu-na-vstup-v-yes-i-nato-nabuv-chynnosti|website=eu-ua.org|access-date=23 March 2021|language=uk|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928024828/https://eu-ua.org/novyny/zakon-pro-zminy-do-konstytuciyi-shchodo-kursu-na-vstup-v-yes-i-nato-nabuv-chynnosti|url-status=live}}</ref> At the June [[2021 Brussels summit|2021 Brussels Summit]], NATO leaders affirmed that Ukraine would eventually join the Alliance, and supported Ukraine's right to self-determination without interference.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_185000.htm|title=Brussels Summit Communiqué issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels 14 June 2021|website=NATO|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221172546/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_185000.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In late 2021, there was another massive Russian military buildup near Ukraine's borders. On 30 November, Russian president Putin said Ukraine joining NATO, and the deployment of [[United States national missile defense|missile defense systems]] or [[Ballistic missile|long-range missiles]] in Ukraine, would be [[Red line (phrase)|crossing a red line]]. However, there were no such plans to deploy missiles in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russia will act if Nato countries cross Ukraine 'red lines', Putin says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/30/russia-will-act-if-nato-countries-cross-ukraine-red-lines-putin-says |work=The Guardian |date=30 November 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=17 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217112550/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/30/russia-will-act-if-nato-countries-cross-ukraine-red-lines-putin-says |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=NATO Pushes Back Against Russian President Putin's 'Red Lines' Over Ukraine |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43334/nato-pushes-back-against-russian-president-putins-red-lines-over-ukraine |work=The Drive |date=1 December 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=14 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214164345/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43334/nato-pushes-back-against-russian-president-putins-red-lines-over-ukraine |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Putin warns Russia will act if NATO crosses its red lines in Ukraine |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/stocks/putin-warns-russia-will-act-if-nato-crosses-its-red-lines-ukraine-2021-11-30/ |work=Reuters |date=30 November 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119022224/https://www.reuters.com/markets/stocks/putin-warns-russia-will-act-if-nato-crosses-its-red-lines-ukraine-2021-11-30/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Russian Foreign Ministry drafted a treaty that would forbid Ukraine or any [[Post-Soviet states|former Soviet state]] from ever joining NATO.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russia demands NATO roll back from East Europe and stay out of Ukraine |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-unveils-security-guarantees-says-western-response-not-encouraging-2021-12-17/ |work=[[Reuters]] |date=17 December 2021 |access-date=7 March 2024 |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222081106/https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-unveils-security-guarantees-says-western-response-not-encouraging-2021-12-17/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Secretary-General Stoltenberg replied that the decision is up to Ukraine and NATO members, adding "Russia has no veto, Russia has no say, and Russia has no right to establish a [[sphere of influence]] to try to control their neighbors".<ref>{{cite news |title=NATO chief: "Russia has no right to establish a sphere of influence" |url=https://www.axios.com/nato-russia-ukraine-invasion-18619fd7-be80-4d37-86f8-fcebcb1fbe8a.html |work=Axios |date=1 December 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214172403/https://www.axios.com/nato-russia-ukraine-invasion-18619fd7-be80-4d37-86f8-fcebcb1fbe8a.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Is Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? And other questions |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589 |work=BBC News |date=10 December 2021 |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=19 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219125518/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589 |url-status=live }}</ref> NATO offered to improve communications with Russia and discuss missile placements and military exercises, as long as Russia withdrew troops from Ukraine's borders.<ref>{{cite news |title=US offers no concessions in response to Russia on Ukraine |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-united-states-moscow-72856781c3b92640d03c5e954488ba90 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=26 January 2022 |access-date=7 March 2024 |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001143405/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-united-states-moscow-72856781c3b92640d03c5e954488ba90 |url-status=live }}</ref> Instead, [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia invaded Ukraine]] in February 2022. Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022 after Russia proclaimed it had [[Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts|annexed the country's southeast]].<ref>{{cite news |date=30 September 2022 |title=Ukraine applies for Nato membership after Russia annexes territory |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/30/ukraine-applies-for-nato-membership-after-russia-annexes-territory |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001000623/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/30/ukraine-applies-for-nato-membership-after-russia-annexes-territory |archive-date=1 October 2022}}</ref>

Georgia was promised "future membership" during the 2008 summit in Bucharest,<ref>{{cite journal |author=George J, Teigen JM |year=2008 |title=NATO Enlargement and Institution Building: Military Personnel Policy Challenges in the Post-Soviet Context |journal=European Security |volume=17 |issue=2 |page=346 |doi=10.1080/09662830802642512|s2cid=153420615 |issn=0966-2839 }}</ref> but US president [[Barack Obama]] said in 2014 that the country was not "currently on a path" to membership.<ref name = "Obama says no">{{Cite news |last = Cathcourt |first = Will |date = 27 March 2014 |title = Obama Tells Georgia to Forget About NATO After Encouraging It to Join |url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/27/obama-tells-georgia-to-forget-about-nato-after-encouraging-it-to-join.html |work = [[The Daily Beast]] |access-date = 15 April 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140416193123/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/27/obama-tells-georgia-to-forget-about-nato-after-encouraging-it-to-join.html |archive-date = 16 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:We Stand with Ukraine 2022 Helsinki - Finland (51905505001).jpg|thumb|Protestors at a February 2022 rally against [[Russo-Ukrainian War|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]] march past the statue of Tsar [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]] in [[Senate Square, Helsinki|Senate Square]] in [[Helsinki]], Finland|alt=A crowd of people in winter coats march past a white domed church above a set of snowy stairs, some carrying signs and blue and yellow Ukrainian flags.]]

Russia continued to politically oppose further expansion, seeing it as inconsistent with informal understandings between Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] and European and US negotiators that allowed for a peaceful German reunification.<ref name = "Spiegel review">{{Cite news |last1= Klussmann |first1= Uwe |last2= Schepp |first2= Matthias |last3= Wiegrefe |first3= Klaus |date= 26 November 2009 |title= NATO's Eastward Expansion: Did the West Break Its Promise to Moscow? |url= http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/nato-s-eastward-expansion-did-the-west-break-its-promise-to-moscow-a-663315.html |work= [[Spiegel Online]] |access-date= 7 April 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140405190301/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/nato-s-eastward-expansion-did-the-west-break-its-promise-to-moscow-a-663315.html |archive-date= 5 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> A June 2016 [[Levada Center]] poll found that 68 percent of Russians think that deploying NATO troops in the [[Baltic states]] and Poland – former Eastern bloc countries bordering Russia – is a threat to Russia.<ref>[http://www.levada.ru/en/2016/11/04/levada-center_chicago_council/ Levada-Center and Chicago Council on Global Affairs about Russian-American relations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819190307/http://www.levada.ru/en/2016/11/04/levada-center_chicago_council/ |date=19 August 2017 }}. Levada-Center. 4 November 2016.</ref> In contrast, 65 percent of Poles surveyed in a 2017 Pew Research Center report identified Russia as a "major threat", with an average of 31 percent saying so across all NATO countries,<ref>{{cite news |title=Pew survey: Russia disliked around world; most in Poland, Turkey see Kremlin as major threat |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/russia/pew-survey-russia-disliked-around-world-poland-turkey-see-kremlin-major-threat.html |newspaper=Kyiv Post |access-date=4 September 2018 |date=16 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323093746/https://www.kyivpost.com/russia/pew-survey-russia-disliked-around-world-poland-turkey-see-kremlin-major-threat.html |archive-date=23 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 67 percent of Poles surveyed in 2018 favour US forces being based in Poland.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATO summit: Poland pins its hopes on the USA |url=https://www.dw.com/en/nato-summit-poland-pins-its-hopes-on-the-usa/a-44606598 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904121243/https://www.dw.com/en/nato-summit-poland-pins-its-hopes-on-the-usa/a-44606598 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of non-[[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] Eastern European countries surveyed by Gallup in 2016, all but [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]] were more likely than not to view NATO as a protective alliance rather than a threat.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |title=Most NATO Members in Eastern Europe See It as Protection |date=10 February 2017 |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/203819/nato-members-eastern-europe-protection.aspx |publisher=Gallup |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904153827/https://news.gallup.com/poll/203819/nato-members-eastern-europe-protection.aspx |archive-date=4 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> A 2006 study in the journal ''[[Security Studies (journal)|Security Studies]]'' argued that NATO enlargement contributed to [[democratic consolidation]] in Central and Eastern Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Epstein|first=Rachel|date=2006|title=Nato Enlargement and the Spread of Democracy: Evidence and Expectations|journal=Security Studies|volume=14|issue=1 |page=63|doi=10.1080/09636410591002509|s2cid=143878355}}</ref> [[China]] also opposes further expansion.<ref>{{cite news|title=China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion|work=BBC News|date=4 February 2022|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60257080|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217171200/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60257080|archive-date=17 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>