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| What is Nato, which countries are members and will they increase defence spending? | What is Nato, which countries are members and will they increase defence spending? |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte has urged member countries to adopt a new "wartime mindset", and ramp up military spending. | Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte has urged member countries to adopt a new "wartime mindset", and ramp up military spending. |
| His comments echo previous demands made by incoming US President Donald Trump that Nato countries should spend 4% of their national income on defence - double the current target of 2%. | His comments echo previous demands made by incoming US President Donald Trump that Nato countries should spend 4% of their national income on defence - double the current target of 2%. |
| A major Nato exercise will begin in Eastern Europe in mid-January, aimed at deterring further Russian expansion in the region. | A major Nato exercise will begin in Eastern Europe in mid-January, aimed at deterring further Russian expansion in the region. |
| What is Nato and why was it set up? | What is Nato and why was it set up? |
| Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in Washington DC in 1949 by 12 countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK and the US. | Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in Washington DC in 1949 by 12 countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK and the US. |
| Nato was founded in Washington DC in April 1949 | Nato was founded in Washington DC in April 1949 |
| Nato was founded in Washington DC in April 1949 | Nato was founded in Washington DC in April 1949 |
| Nato's primary purpose, external was to block expansion in Europe by the former Soviet Union - a group of communist republics which included Russia. | Nato's primary purpose, external was to block expansion in Europe by the former 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 | 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. | Nato does not have an army of its own, but member countries can take collective military action in response to crises. |
| For instance, it supported the UN by intervening in the war in the former Yugoslavia between 1992 and 2004., external | For instance, it supported the UN by intervening in the war in the former Yugoslavia between 1992 and 2004., external |
| It also co-ordinates military plans and carries out joint military exercises., external | It also co-ordinates military plans and carries out joint military exercises., external |
| Which countries are Nato members? | Which countries are Nato members? |
| Nato has 32 members across Europe and North America - the original 12 founders plus 20 countries which have joined since 1949. | Nato has 32 members across Europe and North America - the original 12 founders plus 20 countries which have joined since 1949. |
| After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined, including 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, including Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. |
| 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. Sweden became a member in March 2024. |
| Having been neutral for decades, they both applied to Nato in May 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. | Having been neutral for decades, they both applied to Nato in May 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. |
| Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia have also asked to join. | Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia have also asked to join. |
| Why isn't Ukraine a Nato member? | Why isn't Ukraine a Nato member? |
| Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine becoming a member, fearing it would bring Nato forces too close to its borders. | Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine becoming a member, fearing it would bring Nato forces too close to its borders. |
| However, in 2008, the alliance said that Ukraine could eventually join, external. | |
| Former Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term" | Former Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term" |
| Former Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term" | Former Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term" |
| After Russia's invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for this process to be fast-tracked. | After Russia's invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for this process to be fast-tracked. |
| Although then Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg reconfirmed Ukraine could join "in the long term", he said this it would not happen until after the war ended. | |
| How much do Nato members spend on defence? | How much do Nato members spend on defence? |
| Nato asks every member country to spend at least 2% of national income - also known as GDP - on defence. | Nato asks every member country to spend at least 2% of national income - also known as GDP - on defence. |
| It is thought that 23 countries met that target in 2024, compared to only three in 2014. | It is thought that 23 countries met that target in 2024, compared to only three in 2014. |
| The countries which spend the largest share of GDP on defence are the US and those close to Russia, such as Poland and the Baltic states. | The countries which spend the largest share of GDP on defence are the US and those close to Russia, such as Poland and the Baltic states. |
| In July 2024, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK will increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. | |
| In December 2024, Nato secretary general Rutte said that member states would have to "shift to a wartime mindset" and spend "considerably more than 2%" on defence, external. | In December 2024, Nato secretary general Rutte said that member states would have to "shift to a wartime mindset" and spend "considerably more than 2%" on defence, external. |
| During his first term as US president, Trump persuaded many Nato members to ramp up defence spending. In 2018 he said that all countries in the alliance should be spending 4% of GDP. | During his first term as US president, Trump persuaded many Nato members to ramp up defence spending. In 2018 he said that all countries in the alliance should be spending 4% of GDP. |
| While campaigning for his second presidential term, Trump said he might encourage Russia to attack Nato countries which failed to spend enough. | While campaigning for his second presidential term, Trump said he might encourage Russia to attack Nato countries which failed to spend enough. |
| At the time, the White House called the comments "appalling and unhinged". Then Nato chief Stoltenberg said they undermined global security, and put US and European soldiers at increased risk. | At the time, the White House called the comments "appalling and unhinged". Then Nato chief Stoltenberg said they undermined global security, and put US and European soldiers at increased risk. |
| How much do Nato members spend on defence? | How much do Nato members spend on defence? |
| How much do Nato members spend on defence? | How much do Nato members spend on defence? |
| How are Nato countries helping Ukraine? | How are Nato countries helping Ukraine? |
| Nato said Russia's invasion of Ukraine posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security"., external | Nato said Russia's invasion of Ukraine posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security"., external |
| The alliance has not sent troops to Ukraine or enforced a no-fly zone over the country for fear of being pulled into a direct conflict with Russia. | The alliance has not sent troops to Ukraine or enforced a no-fly zone over the country for fear of being pulled into a direct conflict with Russia. |
| However, individual member states have supplied arms and equipment. | However, individual member states have supplied arms and equipment. |
| German research organisation the Kiel Institute, external said that the US had allocated 59.9bn euros (£49.7bn) for military support to Ukraine between February 2022 and October 2024. | German research organisation the Kiel Institute, external said that the US had allocated 59.9bn euros (£49.7bn) for military support to Ukraine between February 2022 and October 2024. |
| European Nato members provided 52.6bn euros (£43.7bn) over the same period. | European Nato members provided 52.6bn euros (£43.7bn) over the same period. |
| The US, UK, Germany and Turkey and others have sent anti-tank weapons, missile defence systems such as Patriot, artillery guns, tanks and drones. | The US, UK, Germany and Turkey and others have sent anti-tank weapons, missile defence systems such as Patriot, artillery guns, tanks and drones. |
| The US, UK and France have also supplied long-range missiles such as Atacms and Storm Shadow/Scalp. | The US, UK and France have also supplied long-range missiles such as Atacms and Storm Shadow/Scalp. |
| Atacms missiles can reach up to 300km (186 miles) and are hard to intercept due to their high speed | Atacms missiles can reach up to 300km (186 miles) and are hard to intercept due to their high speed |
| Atacms missiles can reach up to 300km (186 miles) and are hard to intercept due to their high speed | Atacms missiles can reach up to 300km (186 miles) and are hard to intercept due to their high speed |
| In August 2024, Ukraine received two US-made F16 fighter jets - the first of more than 60 pledged by Nato member states. | In August 2024, Ukraine received two US-made F16 fighter jets - the first of more than 60 pledged by Nato member states. |
| Since November 2024, the US and UK have allowed Ukraine to use their missiles to hit targets within Russian territory. | Since November 2024, the US and UK have allowed Ukraine to use their missiles to hit targets within Russian territory. |
| 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? |
| Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia | Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia |
| Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia | Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia |
| How is Nato increasing its defences against Russia? | How is Nato increasing its defences against Russia? |
| In January and February 2025, Nato forces will take part in a military exercise called Steadfast Dart 25, external in Bulgaria and Romania, led by a UK army division. | In January and February 2025, Nato forces will take part in a military exercise called Steadfast Dart 25, external in Bulgaria and Romania, led by a UK army division. |
| Troops will practise how to reinforce the alliance's eastern borders ahead of an enemy attack, external. | Troops will practise how to reinforce the alliance's eastern borders ahead of an enemy attack, external. |
| In 2023, Nato's commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks anywhere in the Arctic, the North Atlantic, Eastern Europe or the Mediterranean Sea region. | In 2023, Nato's commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks anywhere in the Arctic, the North Atlantic, Eastern Europe or the Mediterranean Sea region. |
| It increased the number of troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000, and bolstered its defences on Russia's borders with eight battlegroups, external. | It increased the number of troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000, and bolstered its defences on Russia's borders with eight battlegroups, external. |
| Nato plans huge upgrade in rapid reaction force | Nato plans huge upgrade in rapid reaction force |
| Nato plans huge upgrade in rapid reaction force | Nato plans huge upgrade in rapid reaction force |
| Related topics | Related topics |
| War in Ukraine | War in Ukraine |
| Mark Rutte | Mark Rutte |
| Volodymyr Zelensky | Volodymyr Zelensky |
| Keir Starmer | Keir Starmer |
| Sweden | Sweden |
| Russia | Russia |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| Nato | Nato |
| Finland | Finland |
| United States | United States |
| Ukraine | Ukraine |