NATO

:This Wikipedia article uses European English spelling because of NATO's historical use of this style as a standard{{fn|1}}. NATO is also an acronym for the National Association of Theatre Owners.

Member states

Founding members (April 4, 1949)

• {{BEL}}
• {{CAN}}
• {{DEN}}
• {{FRA}} 1966 France withdraws from the integrated command of NATO and all NATO forces leave France
• {{ISL}}
• {{ITA}}
• {{LUX}}
• {{NLD}}
• {{NOR}}
• {{POR}}
• {{UK}}
• {{USA}}

States that joined NATO during the Cold War

• {{GRC}} (February 18, 1952)
• {{TUR}} (February 18, 1952)
• {{GER}} (May 9, 1955 as West Germany)
• {{ESP}} (May 30,1982)

Former Eastern Bloc states that joined NATO after the Cold War

1990:

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• {{GER}} (October 3, 1990 - East Germany reunifies with West Germany, forming today's Germany)

1999:

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• {{CZE}} (May 27, 1999)
• {{HUN}} (May 27, 1999)
• {{POL}} (May 27, 1999)

2004:

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• {{BUL}} (March 29, 2004)
• {{EST}} (March 29, 2004)
• {{LAT}} (March 29, 2004)
• {{LTU}} (March 29, 2004)
• {{ROM}} (March 29, 2004)
• {{SVK}} (March 29, 2004)
• {{SVN}} (March 29, 2004)

Other states that joined NATO after the Cold War

Greece and Turkey joined the organisation in February 1952. Germany joined as West Germany in 1955 and German reunification on October 3, 1990 extended the membership to the areas of the former German Democratic Republic which became part of the Federal Republic of Germany. Spain was admitted on May 301982, and the former Warsaw Pact countries of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic made history by becoming members on March 121999.

Related Topics:
1952 - West Germany - 1955 - German reunification - October 3 - 1990 - German Democratic Republic - Federal Republic of Germany - May 30 - 1982 - Warsaw Pact - Poland - Hungary - Czech Republic - March 12 - 1999

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France is a member of NATO, but it withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966. Following this decision, the NATO headquarters was moved from Paris to Brussels. Iceland, the sole member of NATO which does not have its own military force (the Icelandic Defense Force being the United States Military contingent permanently stationed in Iceland), joined on the condition that they would not be expected to establish one.

Related Topics:
1966 - NATO headquarters - Paris - Brussels - Icelandic Defense Force

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Greece withdrew its forces from NATO?s military command structure from 1974 to 1980 as a result of Greco-Turkish tensions following the 1974 Cyprus dispute.

Related Topics:
1974 - 1980 - Greco-Turkish tensions - Cyprus dispute

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Slovenia and the former Warsaw Pact countries of Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania officially acceded to NATO on March 292004. They attended their first NATO meeting in April 2004.

Related Topics:
Slovenia - Warsaw Pact - Slovakia - Bulgaria - Romania - Estonia - Latvia - Lithuania - March 29 - 2004

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Albania, Croatia, and the FYR of Macedonia are the three countries currently in the NATO MAP (Membership Action Programme); they will likely join NATO in the future.

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