NATO From Formation to Expansion, A Perspective on International Relations

This study explores the development and strategic importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), recognized as one of the most resilient and effective international alliances in modern times. Founded in the complex aftermath of World War II, NATO emerged as a response to the Soviet Union’s expanding influence across Eastern and Central Europe and as a framework for European unity under American strategic direction. The research analyzes how NATO has sustained its political and military prominence, particularly after redefining its strategic objectives since 2020 to reinforce its transatlantic leadership and global security role. It addresses three key inquiries: NATO’s foundational nature, the extent of its success in fulfilling its goals, and the breadth of its political and military capacity. Guided by the main hypothesis that NATO’s creation primarily advanced U.S. interests and strengthened Washington’s authority in Europe, the study also examines assumptions concerning the Soviet threat, European defense needs, and the alliance’s contribution to political and military integration. Employing a historical and descriptive approach, the research follows the circumstances surrounding NATO’s establishment, its responses to geopolitical shifts, and its ongoing transformation within the post–Cold War and modern global landscape. The findings emphasize NATO’s contribution to reinforcing Euro-Atlantic security through coordinated defense strategies, military-industrial cooperation, and partnerships designed to counterbalance rising powers such as Russia and China. Ultimately, the study concludes that NATO operates both as a guardian of European stability and as a strategic tool of U.S. global influence.