After the horrendous aftermath of the Second World War, officials from twelve different countries met in Washington D.C., to create what is now known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also known as NATO. NATO is a transatlantic security coalition composed currently of thirty-one countries – twenty-nine European and two North American nations.  

NATO was founded on the 4^th of April 1949 for the purpose of securing peace and freedom in Europe. Notably, the treaty outlines the concept of collective defence, implying that an attack on one is an attack on all. 

It is commonly thought that NATO was founded as a response to the growing power of the Soviet Union. Although this is accurate, it is not the sole reason for its creation. The formation of NATO was part of a larger effort to deter Soviet expansionism, forbid the establishment of nationalist militarism in Europe, and encourage European political integration. 

When the Soviet Union collapsed many believed that the military alliance had no purpose. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has taken a significant role in crisis management, working closely with its members to promote democracy, peace, and security. The Alliance has aided its members at the end of the war in the Balkans, deployed armed forces to Afghanistan during the attacks of 9/11, cooperated to fight piracy and terrorism in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, and during the Arab Spring began an air campaign over Libya to protect civilians targeted by the Gaddafi Dictatorship. 

Canada and NATO have a close and lasting relationship. As one of the founding members of the Security Alliance, Canada has consistently asserted its commitment to the alliance. Canada has sent nearly two hundred personnel to NATO’s Top Command Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and recently transferred approximately two thousand personnel overseas to Latvia as a part of a NATO mission. Today, with Russia’s invasion of Eastern Ukraine, beginning what is now known as the Russo-Ukrainian War, tensions are only increasing. NATO condemns Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, a peaceful, and sovereign nation. NATO and its members continue to provide the country with military aid such as High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Howitzers, and Ghost Tactical Combat Drones which will enable the Ukrainian forces to strike deeper and pass the frontlines. Although Ukraine is not a direct member of the Alliance, it remains allied with many of the members – thus creating a direct threat to NATO. 

 The Alliance has declared Russia as the most significant and direct threat to their members and a hazard to the security and peace in the area. Despite all odds, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine has not gone according to plan. In some instances, Russian troops have been overwhelmed by the Ukrainian forces and have been forced to retreat closer to their territory. Since 2000, Russia’s military doctrine has allowed the nation to use nuclear weapons in response to “large-scale aggression”. With the threat of the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and the possibility of other Russian allies such as Belarus aiding in the invasion, NATO has been put on one of its highest states of alert. 

The threat of a new conflict or use of weapons of mass destruction in Eastern Europe is putting NATO on one of its highest alert statuses. NATO not only defends its members but also supports its partners and allies in the region. By standing together, NATO can deter aggressions and promote security and peace. NATO Is an Alliance that should not be considered an artifact of the past, but a necessity for the present and future.  

It is important to understand that in conflicts the general populace is not to blame. Russia and Ukraine are incredible nations filled with rich cultures and history. Military assaults such as the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War are usually quite complex and usually never one-sided.