No, Taiwan is not part of NATO, as the alliance is restricted to Europe and North America. However, the U.S. treats Taiwan as a de facto Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) regarding defense, and some U.S. lawmakers have proposed adding Taiwan to a "NATO Plus" category to expedite arms sales.
When Congress enacted the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for FY 2003 on September 30, 2002, it required that Taiwan be "treated as though it were designated a major non-NATO ally".
The largest group of European nations not in NATO are those that profess their neutrality. Including nations such as Austria, Ireland, and Switzerland, some have military neutrality enshrined in their constitutions, or because of previous dealings with the great powers.
Japan is one of NATO's partners in the Indo-Pacific region, together with Australia, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand. The Indo-Pacific is important for the Alliance, given that developments in that region directly affect Euro-Atlantic security.
Finland - which has a 1,340km (832-mile) land border with Russia - joined in April 2023. Sweden became a member in March 2024. Having been neutral for decades, both applied to Nato in May 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia are not members but have asked to join.
The United States is overwhelmingly the strongest country in NATO due to its unparalleled military size, budget, advanced technology, and unmatched air and naval power, providing the backbone for the entire alliance's collective defense. The United Kingdom and France are often ranked next, followed by Germany, but the U.S. military significantly surpasses all other members combined in key areas like aircraft and naval assets.
As of 2026, no member state has rescinded their membership, although it has been considered by several countries. Notwithstanding, a number of former dependencies of NATO members have never applied for membership subsequent to their becoming independent states.
Japan's support for the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Japan has reflected that they are a staunch ally to Ukraine in the midst of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.
This decision led by French president Charles de Gaulle complicated relations between the U.S. and Europe amidst clashing American and Communist spheres of influence. Though France remained politically in NATO, its actions cast doubt onto the organization's future as a counter to Soviet military power and influence.
Currently 19 countries are designated as MNNAs under 22 U.S.C. 2321k and 10 U.S.C. 2350a: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia.
Due to the One China policy, the United Kingdom's diplomatic recognition of the Government of the Republic of China is currently inactive, and all diplomatic relations between the two countries are conducted on an unofficial basis.
NATO holds a significant military advantage due to superior technology, coordination, and higher spending, particularly with the US, while BRICS wields immense economic and demographic power, focusing on global economic influence and development, making NATO militarily stronger but BRICS influential in shaping global trade and finance. NATO's strength lies in its unified military defense pact, while BRICS's power comes from its large populations, growing economies (China, India), and increasing role in world trade, not battlefield cohesion.
The U.S. views Taiwan as geostrategically important given its location in the first island chain. Under U.S. defense commitment to Taiwan, the United States provides defensive weapons, intelligence sharing, military training, military advisors, and other forms of support to Taiwan.
His foreign minister Nikos Christodoulides later dismissed Cypriot membership of NATO or Partnership for Peace, preferring to keep Cyprus' foreign and defence affairs within the framework of the EU, i.e. the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
No countries have left NATO since its founding, although France withdrew from NATO unified command between 1966 and 2009. Since the accession of Sweden on 7 March 2024, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization covers a total area of 27,580,492 km2 (10,648,887 sq mi).
Russia announced in July 2007 that it would no longer adhere to the Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE Treaty) because NATO had still not ratified it. NATO had said it would not ratify the treaty until Russia ended its occupation of Moldova and Georgia.
Formed in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty, NATO is a security alliance of 32 countries from North America and Europe. NATO's fundamental goal is to safeguard the Allies' freedom and security by political and military means.
