NATO - THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an alliance of 28 countries from North America and Europe, committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty, signed on 4 April 1949. In accordance with the Treaty, the fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means. NATO safeguards the Allies’ common values of democracy, individual liberty the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes, and promotes these values throughout the Euro-Atlantic area. The Alliance embodies the ‘Transatlantic Link’ through which the security of North America and Europe are permanently tied together. It is the practical expression of collective effort among its members in support of their common interests.

NATO provides a forum in which the United States, Canada and the European countries can consult together on security issues of common concern and take joint action in addressing them. NATO is committed to defending its member states against aggression or the threat of aggression and to the principle that an attack against one or several members would be considered an attack against all. NATO has helped to end bloody conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo and to head off a civil war in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Today, NATO led forces are helping to bring stability to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Dialogue and cooperation with non-NATO countries are helping to overcome the divisions of the Cold War era and to extend security and stability well beyond NATO borders.

NATO is an intergovernmental organization. The member countries retain their full sovereignty. All NATO decisions are taken jointly by the member countries on the basis of consensus. NATO’s most important decision-making body is the North Atlantic Council (NAC), which brings together representatives of the member countries at the level of Ambassadors, Ministers or Heads of State and Government. NATO’s military structure is a multinational force planning, organization and command system. It provides for joint planning, training, exercising and operations, under the command of NATO’s strategic commanders. NATO structures and mechanisms provide the framework for cooperation with partner countries, which forms an integral part of the day-to-day activity of the Alliance.

 

4.s	Answer the questions

 

1. When was NATO established?

2. How many member states are in NATO?

3. What are the main objectives of NATO?

4. What is ‘Transatlantic Link’?

5. What is the main principle of NATO?

6. In what way are decisions taken in NATO?

5. What is NATO’s most important decision-making body?

 

5.	Complete the speech bubbles

 

1. In accordance with _________, the fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard _____________________ of its member countries.

2. Alliance __________ the ‘Transatlantic _____ through which the security of North America and Europe are _________ tied together.

3. The member countries _______ their full sovereignty.

4. NATO’s most important decision-making body is _________________________.

5. NATO is an ________________ organization.

6. The ______________ role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by _______________ means.

 

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Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups

 

1. What do you know about cooperation between Ukraine and NATO?

2. What do you know about NATO operations?

3. Should our country join NATO? Why?

 

7.	Translate words and word combinations into English

 

Північноатлантичний договір, захищати, свобода і безпека, спільні цінності демократії, консультуватися, загроза агресії, громадянська війна, співпраця, стабільність, верховенство права, уособлювати, колективна безпека, міжурядова організація, зберігати суверенітет, орган прийняття рішень.