Belize's Nato Membership: Understanding Belize's Strategic Alliance

Belize is not a member of NATO. The Central American country is, however, a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and International Maritime Organization.

Is Belize part of NATO?

Belize is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Belize became a member of the United Nations following its independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. Belize and the United States are members of several of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and International Maritime Organization.

NATO is a security alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe. It was formed in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty, which states that an attack against one ally is an attack against all. NATO has 32 members, mostly in Europe, with two in North America. The organization's headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium, while its military headquarters are near Mons, Belgium.

What is NATO?

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a political and military alliance of 32 member countries from Europe and North America. Founded in 1949, NATO is committed to collective defence and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

NATO's purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. The alliance promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust, and prevent conflict.

NATO is committed to the principle of collective defence, as outlined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. This principle states that an attack on one or several members is considered an attack against all. So far, Article 5 has been invoked once, in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.

NATO also conducts crisis-management operations, which are carried out under the collective defence clause of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations.

The alliance is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, NATO has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.

NATO's members, also called NATO Allies, are sovereign states that come together to discuss political and security issues and make collective decisions by consensus. Decisions in NATO require the agreement of all members, and each member has a permanent delegation at NATO's political headquarters in Brussels.

NATO's principal political decision-making body is the North Atlantic Council, which is composed of high-level delegates from each member state.

NATO has focused on deterring Russian aggression in recent years, but it has also conducted security operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Somalia. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many NATO allies have provided Kyiv with significant military support, and the alliance has expanded to include Finland and Sweden.

NATO is an important organisation that plays a key role in ensuring the security and stability of its member countries through political and military means.

How many countries are in NATO?

Belize is not a member of NATO. As of March 2024, there are 32 countries in NATO, which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These countries are also referred to as NATO Allies.

NATO was created by 12 countries from Europe and North America on 4 April 1949. Since then, 20 more countries have joined NATO through 10 rounds of enlargement.

The 12 founding members of NATO are: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The 20 countries that have joined NATO since its founding are: Greece and Türkiye (1952); Germany (1955); Spain (1982); Czechia, Hungary, and Poland (1999); Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (2004); Albania and Croatia (2009); Montenegro (2017); North Macedonia (2020); Finland (2023); and Sweden (2024).

NATO's most recent member, Sweden, submitted its official letter of application to become a NATO Ally in May 2022, along with Finland. At the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, Allied Leaders agreed to invite both countries to become members of NATO. Sweden deposited its Instrument of Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty on 7 March 2024, becoming the 32nd member country.

What is the purpose of NATO?

Belize is not a member of NATO. As of 2024, there are 32 members of NATO, which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

NATO's fundamental purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. The organisation strives to secure a lasting peace in Europe and North America, based on its member countries' shared values of individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The principle of collective defence is at the heart of NATO. This means that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members. This principle is enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which states that if an armed attack occurs against one member state, it should be considered an attack against all members, and other members shall assist the attacked member, with armed forces if necessary.

NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity to undertake crisis-management operations.

NATO also contributes to peace and stability through crisis prevention and management, and through partnerships with other organisations and countries across the globe.

As an intergovernmental organisation, NATO provides a forum for its members to consult and make decisions on political and military matters affecting their security. All decisions are made by consensus.

Which countries are in NATO?

As of March 2024, there are 32 countries in NATO, also known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These countries are:

• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• France
• Iceland
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• The United Kingdom
• The United States
• Greece
• Türkiye
• Germany
• Spain
• Czechia
• Hungary
• Poland
• Bulgaria
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Albania
• Croatia
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Finland
• Sweden

NATO was established on 4 April 1949 when the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) was signed by its 12 founding members. Since then, 20 more countries have joined NATO through 10 rounds of enlargement.

Frequently asked questions