Final answer:
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military and political alliance of 30 member countries from Europe and North America, originally established to deter Soviet military aggression and now focusing on collective defense, peace, and stability of the member nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a political and military alliance that includes countries from Western Europe, North America, and other regions. It was originally formed in 1949 with the primary objective of deterring Soviet aggression during the Cold War. NATO establishes collective defense whereby member states agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. This alliance has evolved to include peacekeeping roles and expanding membership to include Eastern European countries post-Cold War. Currently, NATO is the largest and oldest regional intergovernmental military alliance, with 30 member states and a significant military capacity backed by a collective defense agreement and a high percentage of global military spending.
NATO serves not only as a military deterrent but also works towards the peace and stability of Europe and its allies. It has especially stood as a counterbalance to potential threats, providing assurance of support and defense among its partner nations.