“It is often said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union. This is only partially true. In fact, the Alliance’s creation was part of a broader effort to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration…

“Since its founding in 1949, the transatlantic Alliance’s flexibility, embedded in its original Treaty, has allowed it to suit the different requirements of different times. In the 1950s, the Alliance was a purely defensive organiation. In the 1960s, NATO became a political instrument for détente. In the 1990s, the Alliance was a tool for the stabilization of Eastern Europe and Central Asia through the incorporation of new partners and Allies. In the first half of the 21st century, NATO faces an ever-growing number of new threats. As the foundation stone of transatlantic peace and freedom, NATO must be ready to meet these challenges.”

Key Stats

From the International Database: World Population Estimates and Projections:

Note: The table below is sorted by population and cropped at the bottom and the right side. Currently, IDB lists 30 NATO countries and is being updated to add new members Finland and Sweden.

Data Tool: International Database (IDB), Population estimates and projections for all 32 countries in NATO

More Stats

Source: 2022 American Community Survey (ACS), 1-year estimates

From Census.gov > Business and Economy > International Trade:

Note: To access U.S. trade figures for a country not listed below, enter the 4-digit code from the list of country codes into this URL — <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c0000.html> — replacing 0000 with the country code.