NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an intergovernmental military alliance established on April 4, 1949, by the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty). Its primary purpose is to ensure collective defense and security among its member countries, which are primarily located in North America and Europe. The organization operates on the principle of collective defense, meaning that an armed attack against one or more of its members is considered an attack against all member states. NATO’s core mission has evolved from defending against the threat of Soviet expansion during the Cold War to addressing various contemporary security challenges, including crisis management, cooperative security, and counterterrorism. The alliance promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defense and security-related issues to enhance mutual security. As of 2023, NATO comprises 31 member countries, making it one of the most significant military alliances in the world.
Belgium is significantly increasing its defense budget under Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Defense Minister Theo Francken. The country aims to meet NATO's 2% GDP defense spending target by…