Understand NATO! (Famous Question: Who Does It Serve?)

That famous four-letter word that we hear constantly in the news, on social media, and in international crises: NATO. So, what exactly is this organization, whose acronym stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and what does it do? For most of us, this institution means a military force, an alliance. But what was the purpose of establishing this huge structure, how has it transformed over the years, and most importantly, whose interests does it really serve in this complex world of 2025?

NATO’s fundamental purpose is to consider an armed attack on one of its members as an attack on all its members and to implement the principle of collective defense. This principle is known as Article 5 and is the organization’s strongest aspect. Today, this organization, which has more than 30 countries as members, is not only a military alliance; it also plays an active role in areas such as political cooperation, crisis management, and peacekeeping.

From the Cold War to the present, NATO has been active in many turning points in world politics. It has taken an active role in many developments, from the Yugoslav intervention to the Afghanistan operations, from the security of the Baltic countries to its strategic position in the Russia-Ukraine war. Especially after 2022, Russia’s attack on Ukraine caused the North Atlantic alliance to both strengthen its eastern flank and bring new members such as Sweden and Finland to the agenda.

In this article, we will look behind its official and serious face, and discuss its journey from the ashes of the Cold War to its current role, the potential Israel-Iran War of June 2025, and the most curious question, “Is NATO still an American project?” in the most sincere and understandable way.

The Birth of NATO and the Cold War Years

To understand the beginning of everything, we need to go back in time to the devastating years after World War II. Europe was in ruins, and the countries were exhausted and weak. However, even though the war was over, a new danger had emerged: the Soviet Union, which was growing stronger in the East and pursuing an expansionist policy. Western European countries were seriously concerned that communism and Soviet influence were on their doorstep. They knew that they could not stand up to this huge power on their own.

It was in this atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that a historic signing was made in Washington D.C. on April 4, 1949. The US, Canada and 10 European countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty and established NATO. The basic purpose was very clear: Collective defense. In other words, to stand together and protect each other against a possible attack by the Soviet Union. This was a historic moment when the US broke away from its traditional policy of isolation and directly intervened in the security of Europe.

If NATO’s founding philosophy were to be summarized in a single sentence, it would be: “If you attack one of us, you will attack all of us, and you will find all of us against you.” This was a vital assurance, especially for European countries whose military power had weakened. Because this “all of us” included the United States, the only superpower with nuclear power at the time. The North Atlantic Alliance was designed from the very beginning as a deterrent against the Soviet Union.

Varşova Paktı ve Berlin Duvarı Yılları

During the Cold War years, NATO successfully fulfilled its basic mission. It was a counterweight to the Warsaw Pact led by the Soviet Union. The world spent decades in a bipolar order, under the shadow of the threat of nuclear war. During this period, the North Atlantic alliance continuously increased its military capacity, organized joint exercises and also functioned as a political consultation mechanism between member countries. The existence of the alliance played a key role in preventing a large-scale conventional war in Europe.

However, with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, NATO’s raison d’être began to be questioned. The “enemy” had disappeared, so what would happen now? Would it complete its mission and leave the stage of history, or would it take on a new mission? This question was the starting point of its transformation in the post-Cold War period and its current role.

What Does Article 5 Mean? “All for One”

There is an article that sets it apart from other international organizations and is considered the heart and soul of the alliance: the famous Article 5. The principle of collective defense, which forms the basis of the entire alliance, is embodied in this article. Without this article, NATO would never have the deterrent power and importance it has today. So, what exactly does this article, which politicians are constantly talking about, say?

The article states the following in its simplest form: “An armed attack on one of the alliance members in Europe or North America will be considered an attack on all of them.” In other words, if one member country is subjected to a military attack, all other members will consider this attack to be against them and will help their allies who are attacked. This is the military and political commitment of the “one for all, all for one” mentality.

The most interesting and ironic part is that this article has only been used once in NATO history. So when and for whom? For the Soviet threat? No. Article 5 was activated by European members in support of their American allies after the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001. In other words, the most critical article of an alliance established to protect Europe was used to protect America. This incident is the most concrete evidence of how the alliance has evolved and its connection with the US.

Diplomatic Support or Economic Power?

But there is an important nuance here: Article 5 does not mean that if one member is attacked, all other members will automatically go to war. The article states that each country will take “such actions as it deems necessary.” This may include military intervention, but it may also take other forms, such as diplomatic support, economic assistance, or intelligence sharing. The decision is within the sovereignty of each member country. Nevertheless, the political and military weight of the article is so great that it has often been sufficient to deter a potential aggressor.

Ultimately, Article 5 is NATO’s greatest deterrent. Knowing that a country will face not only its own military, but also the collective power of more than 30 countries, including the United States, the world’s greatest military power, in the event of an attack, greatly reduces the likelihood of war. NATO’s fundamental guarantee comes from this principle of “strength in unity.”

Meanwhile, the list of NATO members is as follows:

Albania

Belgium

Bulgaria

Canada

Croatia

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States

NATO Still Serve US Interests in 2025?

Here we come to the most crucial question. The Cold War is over, the world has changed, new threats have emerged. So, as of 2025, will NATO still be an American project as it was when it was founded, or will it be a partnership from which all members benefit equally? This is a very complex and much-discussed question. There is no simple “yes” or “no” answer. Let’s look at both sides of the coin.

Those who say “Yes, it still largely serves US interests” have very strong arguments. First of all, NATO is the most important tool for the US to maintain its political and military leadership and influence over Europe. Thanks to the alliance, the US has military bases in Europe, shapes the security architecture of the continent, and can surround and balance potential rivals (like Russia). This gives the US the ability to act as a global power.

It also has an economic dimension. NATO members increasing their defense spending and adapting their military systems to its standards usually means a huge market for the US defense industry, which is the largest arms manufacturer. The alliance creates a sort of guaranteed market for U.S. military hardware exports, meaning it makes an indirect but significant contribution to the U.S. economy.

USA, NATO and Their High Monetary Costs!

On the other side of the coin, however, there are the obligations and costs that the alliance imposes on the US. The US carries the lion’s share of NATO’s military and financial burden. President Trump‘s frequent criticism that “Other members are not spending enough” is a reflection of this tension. (Not Putin, of course!) In addition, under Article 5, the US is at risk of being drawn into a European crisis or conflict that does not directly concern it. In other words, this relationship is not a one-sided, beneficial relationship.

As a result, we can draw the following picture as of 2025: Yes, the North Atlantic Alliance is a structure that significantly serves the US’s global strategic interests. However, this does not mean that it is only an American pawn. Other members also benefit from the security umbrella provided by the US’s nuclear and conventional power, reducing their own defense costs and increasing their deterrence. This is a complex and symbiotic relationship in which the US is the “senior partner” but all members benefit in some way. NATO serves the United States, but the United States must also serve NATO.

NATO and the Political Future of the World

NATO was established in the mid-20th century as the West’s common defense umbrella against Cold War tensions. However, the changing threat perception in the 21st century showed that it had to be much more than just a military alliance. Today, complex threats such as cyber attacks, energy crises, disinformation and hybrid wars are causing NATO to redefine its strategic priorities.

• The war that Russia launched in Ukraine in 2022 re-emphasized NATO’s deterrence on its eastern border. At the same time, the desire of even neutral countries such as Sweden and Finland to join it showed how strong a security guarantee the alliance still provides. These developments reinforce its place in world politics not only as a military structure but also as a defender of democratic values ​​and stability.
• Factors such as the rise of China, instabilities in the Middle East, threats from North Korea and geopolitical competition in Africa require NATO to take on a more flexible and agile structure on a global scale. This alliance is now establishing closer relations not only with its allies on both sides of the Atlantic, but also with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. This situation suggests that it could transform into a global security network that goes beyond its geographical borders in the future.