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What is Nato and when will Ukraine join? What is Nato and which countries are members?
(about 1 month later)
Nato, the West's defensive alliance, has confirmed Ukraine can join, but has not said when. Sweden has moved one step closer to joining Nato, after the Turkish parliament approved its membership.
Speaking during the Nato summit in Lithuania, the Ukrainian President Zelensky said the lack of clarity was "unprecedented and absurd". The military defence organisation, which brings together countries from Europe and North America, is recruiting new members and bolstering its defences following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Which countries are in Nato? What is Nato and when was it set up?
Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.
The organisation has two official languages, English and French. In French, the alliance is known as Otan, Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique Nord. Its aim was to block expansion by the then Soviet Union - a group of states which included Russia.
It currently has 31 members across Europe and North America. Members agree that if one of them is attacked, all other nations should help it - which could include using armed force.
They agree to help one another if they are attacked. Nato does not have an army of its own, but member countries can take collective military action in response to crises. They also coordinate military plans and carry out joint military exercises.
Nato's original goal was to block Soviet expansion in Europe after World War Two. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nato said that it posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security".
After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined the alliance: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Which countries are Nato members?
Will Ukraine join Nato? Nato has 31 members across Europe and North America.
Nato said in 2008 that Ukraine could join at a future date, but declined its September 2022 request for "fast-track" membership. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Under article 5 of Nato's charter, if one member is attacked, the others must come to its defence. Sweden and Finland applied to join in May 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two countries feared for their security.
Were Ukraine to join during the current conflict with Russia, all Nato member countries would also have to declare war on Russia. Finland - which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia - became a Nato member in April 2023.
At the Vilnius summit in July, Nato said that it will invite Ukraine to become a member "when allies agree and conditions are met". Sweden's bid for membership was finally approved by the Turkish parliament on 23 January.
It also said that Ukraine could skip a step in the entry process called the Membership Action Plan. Turkey had been blocking Sweden's application, because it said the country had refused to hand over members of militant groups such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (the PKK).
However, Nato has not set out a timeframe for Ukraine's entry. Now, Sweden only needs Hungary's parliament to approve its membership.
Ukrainian President Zelensky accepts his country cannot join Nato while it is at war with Russia, but wants it to happen as soon as possible after fighting ends: "Nato will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger." Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, also want to join Nato.
Russia has consistently and strongly opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its own territory.
Nato shows Ukraine it can't get everything it wants
Which other countries are joining Nato?
Sweden applied to join Nato in April 2022, along with Finland.
Finland has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia. Both countries were concerned about growing Russian aggression following the Ukrainian invasion.
Finland joined Nato in April 2023, but for many months Turkey and Hungary refused to approve Sweden's application.
Turkey accused it of hosting its enemies, including pro-Kurdish groups.
However, before the latest summit, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden had addressed "Turkey's legitimate security concerns", and that the Turkish government would ask its parliament to approve membership.
He said Hungary would do the same.
However, it is not known when the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments will vote, or when Sweden might officially be admitted.
Sweden hails historic step as Turkey backs Nato bid
How Sweden and Finland went from neutral to NatoHow Sweden and Finland went from neutral to Nato
What weapons are Nato countries supplying to Ukraine? When will Ukraine join Nato?
The US is sending Ukraine cluster bombs - weapons containing so-called "bomblets" which explode across a wide area. Nato has said that Ukraine can become a member, but has not confirmed when this will happen.
The bombs are controversial, because of the harm they might do to civilians. It refused Ukrainian President Zelensky's request for "fast-track" membership in September 2022.
The US is also supplying Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks. The UK has sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks, while Germany and other Nato countries have donated dozens of Leopard 2 tanks. Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg has told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term"
The US and UK have provided missiles such as Himars, which have been used to hit targets behind Russia's front lines. Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its own territory.
A Himars launcher under tree cover in eastern Ukraine Kyiv accepts it cannot join Nato while it is at war with Russia, but wants to join as soon as possible after fighting ends.
Nato countries are also supplying air defence systems to shoot down Russian cruise missiles and drones over Ukraine. Since July 2023, the Nato-Ukraine Council has coordinated efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
The US has said it will support the delivery of American fighter jets, such as F-16s, to Ukraine by Nato allies. Nato countries are teaching Ukrainian pilots how to fly them. Ukraine wants more than warm words over joining Nato
However, the US is not providing its longer-range missiles, called Advanced Tactical Missile Systems. It thinks these could be used to attack targets inside Russia - which could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and the West. What weapons are Nato countries giving Ukraine?
For the same reason, Nato countries are not sending troops to Ukraine, nor using their air forces to impose a no-fly zone. As a group, Nato has not sent weapons to Ukraine, but several individual member countries have done so.
At the Nato summit, the G7 members ratified a wide-ranging security pact with Ukraine, which will deliver more defence equipment, training and intelligence sharing. The US, UK, Germany and Turkey have provided anti-tank weapons, missile defence systems, artillery guns, tanks and military drones.
The US and UK have also supplied long-range missiles.
The US is supplying long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine
The US has let Nato countries offer its fighter jets, such as F-16s, to Ukraine, and teach pilots how to fly them.
The Netherlands said it may soon deliver 18 F-16 jets.
However, Nato countries are not sending troops to Ukraine, or using their air forces to impose a no-fly zone over the region, because that could provoke a direct conflict with Russia.
Since December, US politicians have failed to agree new funding for military aid for Ukraine. However, the UK government has pledged £2.5bn.
What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?
What is Nato's defence plan against Russia? How is Nato increasing its defences against Russia?
Nato commanders have agreed a new plan for countering Russian aggression. In 2023, Nato commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks in the Arctic and north Atlantic, central Europe, or the Mediterranean region.
It spells out how forces should be deployed if Russia attacks in any of three zones: the Arctic and north Atlantic; central Europe; or the Mediterranean region. In February 2024, Nato will stage one of its largest military exercises since the end of the Cold War.
Nato currently has 40,000 troops which can be mobilised at short notice. There is a proposal to have 300,000 troops ready for action within 30 days. The Steadfast Defender exercise in Eastern Europe will involve 90,000 personnel from all 31 Nato countries plus Sweden. The UK is sending 20,000 personnel.
Nato also wants member countries to update their military equipment, to stockpile more ammunition, and to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defence. Nato previously announced plans to increase the number of its troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000.
It has also bolstered its defences on its eastern flank, bordering Russia.
There are currently eight battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the Baltic Republics. Before the war in Ukraine, there were four.
Nato countries have also been increasing their military budgets.
Several are now spending more than 2% of their national incomes on defence - which Nato says is a minimum. However, many countries are spending less than this.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
War in UkraineWar in Ukraine
TurkeyTurkey
SwedenSweden
RussiaRussia
NatoNato
FinlandFinland
United StatesUnited States
UkraineUkraine
Hungary