Your understanding of global security isn't complete without knowing NATO. You'll learn how this alliance, formed to counter Soviet expansion, is still shaping geopolitics today, even as its purpose evolves.
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is the world's most powerful military alliance, comprising 32 member countries across North America and Europe.
Formed in 1949 during the early Cold War, its original goal was to deter Soviet aggression and prevent the spread of communism, creating a collective defense pact.