What does NATO stand for?

NATO stands for The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which is a military alliance established in 1949. This organization was formed with the primary aim of providing collective defense against aggression, particularly in the context of the Cold War and the potential threat from the Soviet Union. Members of NATO commit to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party, enhancing security and political cooperation among member states.

The other options provide incorrect expansions of the acronym. For instance, there is no treaty that specifically pertains to North America alone or one that wrongly combines elements of the terms ‘national’ or ‘office’ in relation to NATO’s actual purpose and structure. The correct understanding of NATO as a European and North American alliance underlines its geographic and strategic foundations.