About This Lesson
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance between 29 different countries in Europe and North America. Initially created in 1949 to prevent the expansion of Soviet influence in Europe, NATO formed a rivalry with the countries of the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War. After the fall of the Soviet Union, NATO adapted it efforts to address new threats. This lesson traces the history of NATO starting with its formation and ending with President Trump's efforts to increase Europe's financial contributions to the alliance.