In 2024, the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.
NATO, a military alliance established in 1949, has expanded significantly since its original 12 founding members. The primary purpose of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. The principle of collective defense, enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, states that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.
Here's a list of the current NATO members, reflecting the order in which they joined:
| Founding Members (1949) | Subsequent Enlargements |
|---|---|
| Belgium | Greece (1952) |
| Canada | Turkey (1952) |
| Denmark | Germany (1955) |
| France | Spain (1982) |
| Iceland | Czech Republic (1999) |
| Italy | Hungary (1999) |
| Luxembourg | Poland (1999) |
| Netherlands | Bulgaria (2004) |
| Norway | Estonia (2004) |
| Portugal | Latvia (2004) |
| United Kingdom | Lithuania (2004) |
| United States | Romania (2004) |
| Slovakia (2004) | |
| Slovenia (2004) | |
| Albania (2009) | |
| Croatia (2009) | |
| Montenegro (2017) | |
| North Macedonia (2020) | |
| Finland (2023) | |
| Sweden (2024) |
The most recent addition to NATO is Sweden, which officially joined in 2024. This expansion reflects NATO's ongoing adaptation to the evolving security landscape and its commitment to maintaining stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.
