North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NATO has been expanding since it was formed in 1949 to provide collective European security and counterbalance rising Soviet power after World War II. Thirty nations including the United States and Canada are now signatories.

Founding country, 1949

500

mi

500

km

Joined before collapse of the Soviet Union, 1950-1991

Joined after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Dec. 1991

Iceland

Limit of the Soviet Union

North American members

CANADA

UNITED STATES

Finland

Russia

United

Kingdom

Est.

Latvia

Denmark

Ireland

Lith.

RUS.

Neth.

Kazakhstan

Belarus

Poland

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

*

Germany

Belg.

Lux.

Ukraine

Czechia

SlVk.

France

Mold.

Aust.

Switz.

Hung.

SlVN.

Romania

Crimea

Georgia

Serb.

B.&

H.

Port.

Azer.

And.

Arm.

Bulg.

Kos.

Spain

Mont.

N. Mac.

Alb.

Turkey

Italy

Greece

Africa

Malta

Cyprus

Mediterranean Sea

West Germany joined NATO in 1955. East and West Germany reunited in 1990.

Matthew W. Chwastyk and Christine Fellenz, NGM Staff.

Source: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

*

North Atlantic

Treaty Organization

NATO has been expanding since it was formed in 1949 to provide collective European security and counterbalance rising Soviet power after World War II. Thirty nations including the United States and Canada are now signatories.

Founding country, 1949

Joined before collapse of the Soviet Union,

1950-1991

Joined after the collapse of the Soviet Union,

Dec. 1991

North American members

CANADA

UNITED STATES

Limit of the

Soviet Union

Iceland

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

Fin.

Russia

U.K.

Est.

Lat.

Den.

Ire.

Lith.

RUS.

Belarus

Neth.

PoL.

*

Ger.

Czechia

Belg.

Ukraine

SlVk.

Fr.

Mold.

Hung.

SlVN.

Rom.

Port.

Crimea

CROAT.

Bulg.

Mont.

Sp.

N. Mac.

Turkey

Italy

Gr.

Alb.

Mediterranean Sea

500

mi

500

km

*

West Germany joined NATO in 1955.

East and West Germany reunited in 1990.

Matthew W. Chwastyk and

Christine Fellenz, NGM Staff.

Source: North Atlantic Treaty Org.