June 1941, Germany invades USSR, bringing USSR into war. NATO North Atlanta Treaty Organization. 1998, U.S. Senate ratified a treaty extending NATO membership to Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Requires unanimity before acting. Joint command, under supreme military leadership of a U.S. officer.
Political chief is European by tradition.
A collective security venture at least in the absence of a Soviet threat given the large number of member states and their disparate interests. Stabilizes democracy in Central Europe, lessening internal threat. Strengthens military resources and power of NATO by 200,000 troops. Russia is constructively engaged with NATO and has a voice in its growth, thus making it less threatened by NATO s expansion of power. Spain accession cost NATO nothing.