Secretary General: Anders Rogh Rasmussen North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Created in 1949 Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium 12 original members Purpose: Military Defense for West Europe and North America Cold War (1955-Warsaw Pact: Soviet Union and Eastern Europe satellite Countries) Red: Warsaw Pact Countries

1991 Rome Conference Focus on 3 Problems 1.Eastern Europe 2.The Balkans 3.The Middle East 1994 NATO planes enforce “no-fly zone – first strike as “police force” 1999 – Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic joined - Europe forces reduced by 2/3

November 2002 Conference –3–3 New Issues: Enlargement → added seven nations: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Build closer relations with Russia New Rapid Reaction Corps. Headquaters Updated Mission –N–No longer confined to Europe Respond to terrorism globally 2002 NATO Conference

3 Groups 1.Rapid Reaction Corp. 2.Main Defense Forces 3.Auxiliary Forces 90% Nuclear Weapons Reduction in Europe Members 2008 – 26 Members 2009 – 28 Members – Albania & Croatia

2003 – Afghansitan –f–first mission beyond Europe – “peacekeeping mission” –R–Reflected new commitment → protection from terrorism/security threats ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) involved NATO → helping w/ Afghan Transitional Authority 2003 U.S.-British Invasion of Iraq –A–All but France/Germany supported it

Focus = reduce restrictions on combat use → Afghanistan France, Germany, Italy, Spain → troops for emergency situations → not for fighting in troubled areas Serbia, Bosnia, and Montenegro = offered Partnerships for Peace –S–Step toward membership George Bush at the Latvia Summit

What is the Difference between NATO and the U.N.?