What you might not know about NATO
Sweden has finally joined NATO after two years of delays
© Getty Images
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, better known as NATO, was set up shortly after the end of World War II. It remains a powerful force, and indeed has been in the news recently, given the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The outbreak of war in Europe pushed several countries that previously abstained from joining the organization to apply for entry, including Ukraine, Finland, and now, Sweden. The Swedish government first submitted its application to join NATO in May 2022, shortly after the invasion of Ukraine. However, the organization requires a unanimous vote from all members in order to accept a new country. Tensions between Sweden and NATO members Turkey and Hungary meant that the road to membership for the Scandinavian nation has been long and arduous.
Turkey insisted that Sweden take a stance against the Kurdish groups they have deemed terrorists, and finally voted to accept the country into NATO in July 2023. Hungary finally followed suit in February 2024. On March 7, Sweden officially became the 32nd member of NATO. This marks a historical shift in Sweden's former policy of neutrality. All Nordic countries are now NATO members giving the organization control of the region, which may become crucial as tensions with Russia escalate.
But how much do we know about NATO, really? How and why was it set up, what does it do, and how is it responding to the ongoing conflicts? Click through the following gallery to learn more about NATO.
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