North Atlantic Treaty
Featured Document
04/29/2024 - 10:00 AM - 07/31/2024 - 05:30 PM
East Rotunda Gallery
A shield against aggression and fear of aggression.
—President Harry S. Truman
On April 4, 1949, representatives of the United States, Canada, and 10 Western European nations met in Washington, DC, to sign a mutual defense pact against possible aggression from the Soviet Union. The treaty formed the legal basis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. Originally signed by the U.S, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal, the alliance has since expanded to 32 members. The U.S. National Archives holds the original treaty and subsequent ratifications.
