RFE
23 May 2019, 02:15 GMT+10
The next summit of NATO's heads of state and government will take place on December 3-4 in London to mark the alliance's 70th anniversary.
In announcing the dates, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on May 23 that the meeting will be a chance to 'address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead.'
He added that London, which was home to NATO's first headquarters, was a fitting venue to mark 70 years of transatlantic military cooperation.
Britain and 11 other countries established the Western military alliance in 1949. There are now 29 member states and the headquarters is in Brussels.
The London summit comes amid persistent tensions between NATO and Russia and concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance.
Trump has criticized NATO's European members of not spending enough on their armed forces.
NATO's founding act, the North Atlantic Treaty, was signed in April 4, 1949, in Washington by Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States. The alliance's 29 foreign ministers met for two days in Washington last month to mark the event.
Greece and Turkey joined together in 1952, followed by West Germany in 1955 and Spain in 1982.
After the fall of communism, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary became members in 1999, followed by a second wave of expansion in the former Eastern Bloc in 2004, which brought Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia into the alliance.
Albania and Croatia were next, joining in 2009, and Montenegro became the newest NATO member in 2017.
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Greek Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Greek Herald.
More InformationThroughout human history, zoonotic diseases, illnesses that jump from animals to humans, have shaped civilizations, triggered pandemics,...
BEIJING/WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a rare move aimed at easing mounting supply chain pressure, China has issued temporary export licenses...
SYDNEY, Australia: Australia will not ease its strict biosecurity rules during trade talks with the United States, Prime Minister Anthony...
BEIJING, China: A little-known office inside China's Ministry of Commerce has become a powerful chokepoint in the global auto and tech...
CHICAGO, Illinois: McDonald's is bringing back its much-loved Snack Wrap in the U.S. starting July 10. The wrap, which includes chicken,...
Patriotic business communities are gaining strength in Russia and attracting unwanted attention from abroad Behind velvet ropes and...
DERA BAJWA, Pakistan: Amir Ali, a 21-year-old man from Pakistan, dreamed of going to Europe for a better life. He was promised a visa...
OMAHA BEACH, France: Eighty-one years after the D-Day landings, a small group of World War II veterans has returned to the beaches...
OCHA called for an enabling environment for aid operations in Gaza, including safe, rapid and unfettered access so that humanitarians...
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 11 (ANI/TPS): Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) to prevent...
CAIRO, 11th June, 2025 (WAM) -- Egypt has called on international delegations wishing to visit the border area near Gaza to express...
Moscow has warned it considers any seizure theft and will retaliate UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has acknowledged that seizing...