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What is Nato, which countries are members and how much do they spend on defence? What is Nato, which countries are members and when might Ukraine join?
(about 2 months later)
Sweden has joined Nato, the military alliance of countries in Europe and North America. The new UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is heading to Washington for a Nato summit, where he will meet US President Joe Biden.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Nato has admitted Sweden and Finland as new members, and has also been bolstering its defences in eastern Europe. Nato, the military alliance of countries in Europe and North America, is marking its 75th anniversary.
The UK government has promised to spend billions more on defence to counter threats from "authoritarian states". Member states are trying to increase their own defence capabilities while continuing to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.
What is Nato and when was it set up? What is Nato and why 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.
Its aim was to block expansion by the Soviet Union - a group of communist states which included Russia. Its founding treaty was signed in Washington DC's Mellon Auditorium, and leaders of Nato countries will gather there to mark the anniversary on the first day of the summit, which is taking place from 9 - 11 July.
Members agree that if one of them is attacked, the others should help it defend itself, external. Nato was founded in Washington DC in April 1949
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, external. Nato was founded in Washington DC in April 1949
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nato said that it posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security", external. Nato's primary purpose, external was to block expansion in Europe by the Soviet Union - a group of communist republics which included Russia.
Members agree that if one of them is attacked, the others should help defend it., external
Nato does not have an army of its own, but member countries can take collective military action in response to crises.
The alliance supported the UN by intervening in the war in the former Yugoslavia between 1992 and 2004, external.
It also coordinates military plans and carries out joint military exercises, external.
In 2022, Nato said the Russian invasion of Ukraine posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security", external.
According to Nato's outgoing secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, the Washington summit, external will focus on how member countries can boost their defence capabilities while supplying Ukraine with enough weapons for it to defend itself.
This Nato summit could save or sink Biden's candidacy
This Nato summit could save or sink Biden's candidacy
Which countries are Nato members?Which countries are Nato members?
Nato has 32 members across Europe and North America, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.Nato has 32 members across Europe and North America, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.
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.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.
Sweden and Finland applied to join in May 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They had been neutral for decades. Finland - which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia - joined in April 2023. Sweden became a member in March 2024.
Finland - which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia - joined in April 2023. Both had applied to join in May 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, having been neutral for decades.
Sweden became a member in March 2024, after its membership was held up by both Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey said Sweden had been giving refuge to members of groups such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which it considers a terrorist organisation. However, it decided to back Sweden's membership in January.
Hungary's government was angry that Sweden had accused it of behaving undemocratically, but agreed to let it join in February.
The addition of Sweden and Finland represents the biggest Nato expansion since the 1990s. The two countries contribute nearly 300,000 active and reserve troops to the alliance's ranks.
Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia also hope to join Nato.Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia also hope to join Nato.
How Sweden and Finland went from neutral to NatoHow Sweden and Finland went from neutral to Nato
How Sweden and Finland went from neutral to NatoHow Sweden and Finland went from neutral to Nato
When will Ukraine join Nato? Why is Ukraine not in Nato, and when could it join?
Nato's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has said it is "inevitable" that Ukraine will become a member, but not until its war with Russia ends. Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its heartland.
President Zelensky has asked for Ukraine to be admitted as soon as possible afterwards. In 2008, Nato members said that Ukraine could eventually join, external.
After Russia's invasion, Ukraine's President Zelensky asked for his country to be admitted as soon as possible.
Outdoing Nato secretary-general Mr Stoltenberg previously said it was "inevitable" that Ukraine would become a member, but not until its war with Russia ends.
Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg has told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term"Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg has told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term"
Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg has told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term"Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg has told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term"
Since July 2023, the Nato-Ukraine Council, external has coordinated efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. Since July 2023, the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, external has been coordinating efforts to give Ukraine weapons and training to defend itself against Russia.
Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its own territory. Nato is proposing to take over that role by creating a $100bn fund, external to support Ukraine over the next five years.
Ukraine wants more than warm words over joining Nato What weapons have Nato countries given Ukraine?
Ukraine wants more than warm words over joining Nato As a group, Nato has not sent weapons to Ukraine, but individual member countries have.
How much do Nato members spend on defence? The US, UK, Germany and Turkey and others have provided anti-tank weapons, missile defence systems, artillery guns, tanks and military drones.
Nato asks member states to spend at least 2% of their national income on defence. The US, UK and France have also supplied long-range missiles.
The US spends nearly 3.5%, and several countries which border Russia - such as Poland and the Baltic Republics - also spend more than 2% on their armed forces. The Kiel Institute, external, a German research organisation, says the US has allocated 50.4bn euros (£42.6bn) for military support to Ukraine, and European countries - Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK - have allocated 32bn euros (£27bn).
UK spending is currently just above 2%. However, Ukraine's armed forces have suffered setbacks in 2024 because of a lack of shells and missiles to defend against Russian advances.
In April 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said UK military spending would rise to 2.5% of national income by 2030. Labour has previously said it is committed to a 2.5% target, when economic conditions allow. Supplies of munitions from the US dried up as the Congress in Washington after a bill to give more military support to Ukraine was delayed for several months.
A number of countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain spent less than the 2% target in 2023, external.
Former US President Donald Trump, who is campaigning for re-election, controversially said he would encourage Russia to attack Nato countries which failed to spend enough on defence.
Nato said there was an "unprecedented rise" in defence spending by several members in 2023, external, and that 18 countries were expected to meet the 2% level in 2024.
How much do Nato members spend on defence?
How much do Nato members spend on defence?
What weapons are Nato countries giving Ukraine?
As a group, Nato has not sent weapons to Ukraine, but several individual member countries have.
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 UkraineThe US is supplying long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine
The US is supplying long-range ATACMS missiles to UkraineThe US is supplying long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine
The US is allowing two Nato countries, Denmark and the Netherlands, to transfer US-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, once pilots have been trained to fly them. The US is allowing two Nato countries, Denmark and the Netherlands, to transfer US-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Ukrainian media said the first planes could arrive in spring 2024, external. However, Nato countries have not sent troops to Ukraine, and have refused to use their air forces to impose a no-fly zone over the country, fearing such action could provoke a direct conflict with Russia.
However, Nato countries have not sent troops to Ukraine, and ruled out using their air forces to impose a no-fly zone over the country, because of fears such action could provoke a direct conflict with Russia.
What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?
What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?
How is Nato increasing its defences against Russia?How is Nato increasing its defences against Russia?
In 2023, Nato commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks in the Arctic and north Atlantic, central Europe, or the Mediterranean region. In 2023, Nato commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks anywhere in the Arctic and north Atlantic, central Europe, or the Mediterranean region.
It also announced plans to increase the number of its troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000. In addition, it has bolstered its defences on its eastern flank, bordering Russia, with eight battlegroups, external. It has increased the number of troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000. It has also bolstered its defences on Russia's borders with eight battlegroups, external.
Until the end of May, Nato is staging Steadfast Defender, external, one of its largest ever military exercises, involving 90,000 personnel from all Nato countries - including Sweden. How much do Nato members spend on defence?
This video can not be played Nato asks every member country to spend at least 2% of its national income on defence, and 23 of them are projected to meet that target in 2024. Only three did in 2014.
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The biggest spenders (in proportion to the size of their economies) are the US and countries close to Russia, such as Poland and the Baltic Republics.
Hundreds of people lined the shoreline to watch HMS Prince of Wales depart for the exercise Nato's European members and Canada collectively increased their defence spending by an estimated 9% in 2023, and are forecast to increase it by another 18% in 2024, external.
Hundreds of people lined the shoreline to watch HMS Prince of Wales depart for the exercise When he was US President, Donald Trump pushed European Nato members to boost their defence spending.
During the current election campaign, Mr Trump - who is the Republican presidential nominee - warned that if he was re-elected, he might encourage Russia to attack Nato countries which failed to spend enough.
Mr Stoltenberg said Mr Trump's suggestion "undermines all of our security".
In a subsequent interview for GB News in March 2024, Mr Trump said the US would "100%" remain in Nato under his leadership, as long as European countries "play fair" and pay their way, external.
How much do Nato members spend on defence?
How much do Nato members spend on defence?
Related TopicsRelated Topics
War in UkraineWar in Ukraine
TurkeyTurkey
Volodymyr Zelensky
Keir Starmer
SwedenSweden
RussiaRussia
NatoNato
FinlandFinland
United StatesUnited States
UkraineUkraine
HungaryHungary
Joe Biden