What is another name for NATO? Why is NATO also called OTAN?

The French name for NATO is “Organisation du Traité de l’Atlantique Nord” (OTAN), which translates directly to the English name. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental political and military alliance between 30 member states, primarily from North America and Europe.

NATO was established in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

NATO plays a significant role in international security and cooperation. The organization’s headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium. NATO is a collective security system: its independent member states agree to defend each other against attacks by third parties.

NATO’s primary purpose is to provide collective defense for its member states. According to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, an attack against one member is considered an attack against all members, and they commit to come to the aid of the attacked member.

After the end of the Cold War, NATO adapted to the changing security environment by expanding its focus beyond its original area of operations, which primarily centered on Europe. NATO engaged in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan.