NATO has partners all over the world. Most are in structured programmes, such as the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue or the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (see map for members and click here for more information). But some other countries work with NATO on a bilateral partnership level. The following shows how both programme members and 'global partners' have linked up with NATO or NATO-led operations.

Despite being as far away from the North Atlantic as is possible, Australia has played a key partnership role with NATO. In Afghanistan, its contribution to the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) has risen from 500 troops in January 2007 to 1550 troops by March 2011 (source ISAF). It has also contributed over 32million euro to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund over the same period.

Georgia has close relations with NATO, which since September 2008, have worked together through the NATO-Georgia Commission (NGC). Georgia contributes 924 troops to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and also supports Operation Active Endeavour, NATO’s anti-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Republic of South Korea is contributing 426 troops to ISAF in Afghanistan. These are based in the challenging Regional Command East area of the country. South Korea's contribution has almost doubled since it first started sending troops. When NATO and the Republic of Korea initiated dialogue in 2005, the Korean Foreign Minister was Ban Ki-Moon. He is now Secretary General of the United Nations.

New Zealand has maintained a solid contribution to ISAF of 236 troops, despite suffering a major earthquake back home. The country leads a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamyan, Afghanistan. This is not the country’s first troop contribution, as several New Zealand officers served in the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sweden's collaboration with NATO increased recently during NATO's Operation Unified Protector for Libya. Sweden sent eight jets to assist with the No-Fly Zone over the country. It also has 500 troops in Afghanistan. The collaboration with Sweden dates back to 1994, when it joined the Partnership for Peace programme.