NATO celebrated its 75th Anniversary yesterday; How much do you know about NATO

On April 4, North NATO celebrates its birth anniversary. NATO’s purpose behind formation was to guarantee security and freedom of its member nations through political as well as military methods. It was founded in response to the Soviet Union military threat to European democracies during the 1940s.

To celebrate its 75th foundation day foreign ministers gathered at NATO headquarters with cakes, flags, and marching bands. Let’s see how well you know this organisation that played a vital role during the cold war. Take a moment out to revise your memory.

1. When was NATO formed?

a) 1945

b) 1918

c) 1947

d) 1949

Answer: d) 

Explanation: NATO was established in the year 1949 in order to secure peace in Europe following World War II and counter the Soviet Union military threat posed to their democracies.

2. NATO consists of how many members?

a) 31

b) 30

c) 17

d) 32

Answer: d) 

Explanation: NATO initially had 12 members at the time of its formation. Since then, 20 additional European countries have joined the alliance making it 32 in number. Majority countries joined the alliance after the end of the Cold War as NATO added countries that were a part of the USSR.

3. NATO headquarters situated in?

a) Washington

b) Brussels

c) Rome

d) London 

Answer: b)

Explanation: NATO headquarter is located at Boulevard Leopold III in Brussels, Belgium. It is the political and administrative centre of the organisation.

4. Which country is the 32nd member of NATO?

a) Albania

b) Sweden

c) Croatia

d) Ukraine

Answer: b) 

Explanation: Sweden became the newest member of the NATO alliance. It joined the alliance on March 7, 2024. Sweden’s neighbouring country Finland became its 31st member on April 4, 2023. The two Nordic countries decided to join NATO in February 2022 due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

5. How many countries are the founding members of NATO?

a) 32

b) 11

c) 12

d) 14

Answer: c) 

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

6. Who is the Current General Secretary of NATO?

a) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

b) Lord Carrington

c) Lord Robertson

d) Jens Stoltenberg 

Answer: d) 

Explanation: Jens Stoltenberg took office on October 1, 2014. He is a Norwegian politician who previously served as the 34th prime minister of Norway from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 until 2013.

Which operation was a NATO-led mission in Afghanistan from 2015 to 2021?

a) Operation Resolute Support

b) Operation Inherent Resolve

c) Operation Unified Protector

d) Operation Freedom’s Sentinel

Answer: a) 

Explanation: Operation Resolute Support was led by NATO in Afghanistan. Its objective was to provide training, advice and assistance to the Afghan security forces and institutions. 

8. Who was NATO’s First Secretary General?

a) Javier Solana

b) Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay

c) Lord Carrington

d) Paul Henri Spaak

Answer: b) 

Explanation: Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay was NATO’s first Secretary General. He was initially reluctant to accept this position. He was the general secretary till 1957.

9. Article 5 of NATO’s treaty deals with?

a) Collective Attack

b) Collective Defence

c) Military Budget

d) Nuclear Weapon

Answer: b) 

Explanation: Article 5 of NATO treaty deals with the principle of collective defence of its member nations. It contains the famous declaration that “armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.” The article is also known as the Washington Treaty. 

10. NATO intervened in which Arab country during 2011?

a) Egypt

b) Tunisia

c) Syria

d) Libya

Answer: d) 

Explanation: NATO intervened in Libya during the 2011 country uprising against the nation’s dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi. The name of the mission was Operation Unified Protector.