The formation of NATO

• In April 1949, the USA, Britain, France and nine other Western countries joined together in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
• NATO agreed that if any member was attacked, all members of NATO would come to its assistance
• NATO was a defensive alliance and went further than the Truman Doctrine in committing the USA to helping Western Europe
• NATO resulted in an ongoing American military presence in Europe and further emphasised the division in Europe
• When West Germany joined NATO in May 1955, the Soviet Union responded by forming the Warsaw Pact