The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance established in 1949, aimed at ensuring the security and defense of its member countries through collective defense. Comprised of 32 member nations from North America and Europe, NATO’s primary goal is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members by political and military means. It promotes democratic values, enables members to consult and cooperate on defense and security-related issues, and carries out crisis management operations worldwide. NATO also engages in partnerships with non-member countries and international organizations to promote global peace, stability, and cooperative security.