NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NATO and the United Nations

Cooperating on maintaining international peace and security since the early 1990s.

Detecting biological weapon use

NATO is developing an epidemiological alert system for biological and chemical attacks

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Discover NATO

A brief interactive introduction to the Alliance's role and activities.

People & Activities

Iceland hosts multinational bomb disposal exercise 24 Sep. 2012 - 05 Oct. 2012 The Icelandic Coast Guard held its annual multinational bomb disposal exercise in Keflavik from 24 September to 5 October 2012. The aim was to train experts in how to respond to real-life terrorist incidents involving improvised and military explosive devices.  
Experts explore technological solutions for the detection and disposal of explosives 20 Sep. 2012 The latest technologies to improve explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and the detection of explosives were the focus of the NATO EOD Demonstrations and Trials that took place in Trenčin, Slovakia, from 18 to 20 September. Representatives of companies, research and development institutes, NATO bodies and Allied and partner countries came together to discuss the way ahead. The event concluded with a seminar organized under the auspices of the NATO-Russia Council. 
NATO supports Smart Defence in South-Eastern Europe 03 Oct. 2012 The NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency will support efforts to sustain the multinational South-Eastern Europe Brigade in carrying out a wide range of missions, including disaster management, and ensure full interoperability with NATO in operations. The support package was reviewed by sixteen defence ministers at the South- Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM) in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 3 October. 
Supporting defence education in partner countries 13 Sep. 2012 - 14 Sep. 2012 The first ever NATO Clearing House for the Defence Education Enhancement Programme took place NATO Headquarters on 13 and 14 September 2012. Participants discussed opportunities to support NATO’s partner countries in their efforts to build, develop and reform educational institutions in the defence domain.  
Latest Transatlantic Trends report shows strong support for NATO 12 Sep. 2012 The 11th edition of the Transatlantic Trends survey has been published on 12 September 2012. Ahead of the report’s release, officials from the German Marshall Fund previewed some of the key findings to members of delegations and the International Staff at NATO HQ. The latest version of the annual public opinion survey shows continued support for NATO on both sides of the Atlantic, with a majority of Americans and Europeans believing that the Alliance is vital to the security of their countries. 
Staying the course in Afghanistan 06 Sep. 2012 On 6 September 2012, a group of Afghan junior diplomats visited NATO Headquarters. The group met with a number of NATO officials, including Ambassador Kolinda Grabar, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy. They also met with Ambassador Homoyoun Tandar, Afghan Ambassador to Belgium. 
NATO sponsors project to help reduce terrorism risk in Mauritania 28 Aug. 2012 Mauritania has seen its share of conflict over the years. Its volatile history has left the country with a large stock of Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), shoulder launched surface-to-air missiles, and obsolete munitions that could pose a security risk to the country and to the safety of the public. A NATO Trust Fund project is now working to destroy these stockpiles and prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists. 
Afghan National Army improves front-line defences 23 Aug. 2012 Soldiers with the Afghan National Army hit a milestone toward their independence from NATO support by improving an outpost that had been the target of insurgent attacks. 

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NATO Review

Food, Water and Energy 28 Sep. 2012 Those who thought that climate change, energy insecurity and food shortages were the things of faraway lands have had cause to think again recently. 
Energy and the environment 28 Sep. 2012 We ask energy and environment expert, Jason Blackstock, how he sees changes in the area, whether they are a cause for optimism and where he sees the potential flashpoints. 
Water or WARter? 28 Sep. 2012 Water is the essence of life. But drinkable, fresh water is at a premium. Rising populations, poor water use and shortages in key areas are all major factors. This video gives a quick tour of the world showing why water is an issue for everyone. 
Fuel for thought 28 Sep. 2012 Energy use is not a side issue for security. Power outages in many NATO states have shown how vulnerable we all are without sufficient energy. As the demand for more energy resources increases, how can we make sure this does not lead to conflict? 
Nature's forces and the armed forces 28 Sep. 2012 NATO Review looks at why getting the armed forces closer to the realities of energy and environmental problems is actually a good move. And why most people would benefit. 
Feeding or fighting 28 Sep. 2012 Geoff Hiscock looks at how enough food production and water usage for everyone is attainable. But how further conflict awaits if no progress is made. 
Threats from within 09 Aug. 2012 In this edition of NATO Review, we look at the dangers of 'the enemy within'. Homegrown terrorists are one of the best - or worst - examples of asymmetrical war. They are difficult to detect, often blend in well with the local population and can strike with devastating effect. But how new is this? And should we be worried about this increasing? 
What terror attacks tell us: the German example 09 Aug. 2012 On Monday July 2, 2012 German security authorities were shocked, as the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, Heinz Fromm, resigned. His agency, the Verfassungsschutz located in Cologne, had made a series of errors in the investigation of a neo-Nazi terror cell in Thuringia.  
Thoughts of a former extremist 31 Jul. 2012 Few can give a more personal insight into how serious home-grown terrorism is than Maajid Naawaz. Formerly a member of Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, he now heads up a counter-extremist foundation. Here he explains why are people drawn to extremism and what it means for potential responses. 
Homegrown terrorism: how the EU sees it 31 Jul. 2012 Homegrown terrorism is clearly a domestic, national issue. So how can a multinational organisation like the EU play a meaningful role? The man who fills the post of EU counter-terrorism coordinator explains what can - and can't - be done by the EU. And highlights some of the impacts it has already had. 
The economic downturn: a boon for home-grown terrorists? 31 Jul. 2012 Will the present economic downturn - with its higher rates of youth unemployment, depression and disillusionment - have any impact on homegrown terrorist recruitment or activity. Dr Brooke Roger looks at how much we can know. 
Terror, coercion and foreign policy 31 Jul. 2012 Mitch Silber has looked through masses of profiles of homegrown terrorists and their motivations in his role as the New York Police Department’s Intelligence Division’s Analytic and Cyber Units. Here he presents some of the main themes that emerged from that analysis. 
Not gone - but not as strong 31 Jul. 2012 Jason Burke has followed the evolution of al Qaida since the last century. Here he looks at how the group has evolved, where it stands now - and the implications for homegrown terrorism. 
Homegrown terrorism in pictures 11 Jul. 2012 The tag ‘homegrown terrorism’ may be new. But the activity certainly isn’t. This photostory highlights some previous examples – stretching back almost a century. 
Homegrown failure: why the domestic terror threat is overblown 11 Jul. 2012 Seek and you shall find is an old phrase. But it is an apt one, argues Benjamin Friedman, when applied to the search for something which has almost certainly always been there. 
Homegrown terrorism: how can NATO fight it? 11 Jul. 2012 The threat from homegrown terrorists is clearly a security issue. But it is one largely dealt with by national intelligence and security forces – not the military. So what exactly can NATO do to counter it? And how does this fit into NATO's wider fight against terrorism? We ask NATO’s counter terrorism expert. 
“New” terrorism in the Western world? 11 Jul. 2012 Homegrown terrorism is not new, argues Marc Sageman. It is as old as political struggle. But it does have new elements in it – not least being the Internet. 
NATO Chicago Summit special edition 30 May. 2012 This edition represents several firsts. For NATO, it is the first time it has held a Summit in North America this century. For NATO Review, it is the first time we have produced a tablet version of the magazine, available when the Summit begins. And it is also the first time we have the President of the United States writing for us. 
Chicago: right city, right time 15 May. 2012 NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, explains why he feels there is no better place than Chicago for celebrating the bond between North America and Europe. 
Message from President Obama 15 May. 2012 US President Barack Obama welcomes NATO to Chicago, his hometown. Here he describes how important the Alliance has been for our common security, our freedom and our prosperity for the past 63 years. 
Making the concept a reality 15 May. 2012 NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral James Stavridis, outlines how NATO’s new Strategic Concept’s ideas have been put into action. 
Afghanistan snapshot: how the experts see it 15 May. 2012 Four prominent Afghans give their views on the country’s elections, priorities, women’s rights and fight against corruption. 
Mr TransAtlantic 15 May. 2012 Ivo Daalder, US Ambassador to NATO, has crossed many divides. From being a European to an American, an academic to a diplomat - and more. Here he explains how it’s helped him at NATO. 
Standing in line: what NATO means to me 15 May. 2012 Stanislava Mladenova has spent half her life in Europe, half in the US. Here she describes the role NATO has played in bringing the strands together. 
From Cronkite to Korea: lessons learned 15 May. 2012 Alexander Vershbow, NATO Deputy Secretary General, talks about coming back to NATO again – and what he learnt on his travels. 
The US: at the heart of NATO since day 1 15 May. 2012 NATO was created by a treaty signed in Washington, DC in 1949. As NATO returns to the US 63 years later for its Chicago Summit, NATO Review highlights some of the key moments of the shared history of the Alliance and its biggest member. 
How well do you really know NATO? 15 May. 2012 This 10 question quiz will find out how well you know the Alliance. 

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