NATO - one of the most influential military-political organizations in the world.There are more than 60 years.Originally created as an alliance structure, designed to counter the policy of the USSR and the possibility of reviving the military aspirations of capitulating Germany.After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO's ranks filled up most of the Eastern European countries of the former Soviet bloc.Some analysts said the prospects of joining the unit (even in the distant future) for Georgia and Ukraine.An interesting fact is that attempts to join NATO (or announce a joint military and political cooperation on the key global issues) and made the Soviet Union and modern Russia.Now NATO's 28 countries.
leading role in military terms, in the organization play the United States.The unit in charge of the program "Partnership for Peace", in cooperation with the Russian Federation organizes the work of the Council "Russia-NATO".It consists of two main structures - the International Secretariat and the Military Committee.It has a huge military resources (Response Force).NATO Headquarters is located in the Belgian capital Brussels.The Alliance's two official languages - French and English.Organization headed by the Secretary General.NATO budget is divided into three types - civilian, military (the most capacious financial) and funding of the security program.The military forces of the Alliance participated in the armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995 years), Yugoslavia (1999 th), Libya (2011 minutes).NATO has been leading an international military force to ensure security in Kosovo involved in solving military-political problems in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.It keeps track of the interaction between the military establishments in the Mediterranean region, identifying the organizations involved in the supply of weapons of mass destruction.The Alliance is actively involved in the international dialogue with Russia, China, India and other major powers.According to some researchers, the tensions between NATO and Russia as the legal successor of the Soviet Union has never disappeared, and now continues to grow.
creation of NATO
NATO bloc was founded in 1949 by twelve states.Geographically, the country created the leading organizations, including the United States - the most powerful political and military government had access to the Atlantic Ocean, which influenced the name of the new international structure.NATO (NATO) - is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that is, the North Atlantic organization operating under the contract.Often it is referred to the Alliance.
The purpose of the unit was opposition to the political aspirations of the Soviet Union and the countries friendly to it in Eastern Europe and other parts of the world.According to the agreements between the NATO countries to provide mutual military defense in case of aggression of the communist world.However, this political union contributed to the integration trends in countries which formed it.In 1952, it joined NATO Greece and Turkey in 1956 - West Germany and in 1982 - Spain.After the Soviet collapse block further expand its influence in the world.
NATO after the collapse of the USSR
When the Soviet Union collapsed, it would seem, the need for the further existence of the Alliance disappeared.But it turned out all wrong.NATO members not only decided to keep the unit, but also to begin to expand its influence.In 1991, it was created by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, which was in charge of working with countries that are not members of NATO.That same year, the bilateral agreements were signed between the states of the Alliance, Russia and Ukraine.
In 1995, the program had been set on building a dialogue with the countries of the Middle East (Israel and Jordan), North Africa (Egypt, Tunisia) and the Mediterranean.She was joined as Mauritania, Morocco and Algeria.In 2002, the Council was created "Russia-NATO", which allowed the country to continue to build a dialogue on the key issues of world politics - the fight against terrorism, limit the spread of weapons.
form NATO soldiers
form of NATO, which clothe the soldiers block has never been unified.Military camouflage on national standards, all more or less like - a green and shades of "hacks".Sometimes the soldiers put additional types of clothing (so-called camouflage overalls) during a special operation in special environments (desert or steppe).In some countries, NATO form contains various designs and patterns that will ensure the best camouflage soldiers.
In the US, for example, the most popular camouflage pattern in five core standards.Firstly, it is woodland - clothes with four shades of green.Secondly, this desert 3 color - uniform for military operations in the desert comprising three shades.Third, this desert 6-color - another variant of clothes for fighting in the desert, this time with six shades.And there are two versions of winter uniforms - winter (clear or milky white color) and snow winter (absolutely pure white shade).All these colors - a guide for designers of many other armies that clothe its soldiers in camouflage NATO.
The evolution of military uniforms of the US Army.Camouflage itself - a relatively recent invention.Prior to the 70 American soldiers were mostly clothes exclusively green.But during the operation in Vietnam such coloring was not meeting the requirements of warfare in jungle conditions, resulting pereoblachilis soldiers in camouflage, allowing the mask in the rainforest.In the 70s, this type of form has become almost a national standard for the US Army.Gradually there were modifications of camouflage - the same five colors.
NATO forces
NATO bloc has considerable armed forces, in the total population - the largest in the world, as some military experts.There are two kinds of troops of the Alliance - United and national.Key NATO military unit of the first type - the forces response.They are ready to almost immediately take part in special operations in the areas of natural and local military conflicts, including in countries outside the bloc.NATO has also forces an immediate response.And the emphasis in their harnessing is not on the practical use of weapons, and the psychological effect - by transfer to a place of hostilities a large number of different weapons and soldiers.The calculation is that the warring parties, realizing the imminent power of NATO to change their tactics in favor of a peaceful settlement.
unit has powerful air force.NATO aircraft - a 22 combat aircraft squadrons (about 500 pieces of aircraft equipment).Also at the disposal of the unit - 80 military transport aircraft destination.NATO countries have also militant fleet.In its structure - aircraft carriers, submarines (including multipurpose nuclear), frigates, missile boats and naval aviation.NATO warships has 100-plus units.
largest military structure of NATO - is a major defensive force.They can only be the involvement in large-scale military operations in the Atlantic region.In peacetime, they are engaged in combat operations in the main part.As part of NATO's main defense force - more than 4,000 aircraft and more than 500 ships.
how to expand NATO
So, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO continued to exist, moreover, has increased its influence in the world.In 1999, the Alliance has entered the state, until recently were part of the Soviet sphere of influence - Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.Five years later - the other former socialist countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Baltic states.In 2009, there were new members of NATO - Albania Croatia.Against the backdrop of political crisis and the fighting in the Ukraine, as some experts believe, NATO will not be to the aspirations to further expand.In particular, during the negotiations between the management unit and representatives of Ukraine on the issue of entry into NATO, analysts say, is not explicitly assigned.
However, according to some experts, many countries are willing to join the bloc.It is above all the Balkan countries - Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.Speaking of which countries aspire to NATO by all means, it should be noted Georgia.However, according to some analysts, the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia - the factors that reduce the attractiveness of the country for the block.Among the experts are of the opinion that further expansion of NATO depends on the position of Russia.For example, at the Bucharest summit, held in 2008, the unit made the probability of joining some of the former Soviet Union, but did not mention specific dates because of the opinions voiced at the event, Vladimir Putin that the appearance of NATO near the borders of Russia - a direct threat.This position of Russia remains relevant today.However, some Western analysts say Russia's fears unfounded.
military exercises Alliance
Since NATO - a military organization, it is common practice for a large-scale military exercises.They involve very different types of troops.At the end of 2013 in Eastern Europe were carried out as deemed many military analysts, the major NATO exercise called Steadfast Jazz.They took Poland and the Baltic states - Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.NATO convened to participate in drills over six thousand troops from different countries, attracted three hundred combat vehicles, more than 50 units of aircraft, 13 warships.Imaginary enemy unit was a fictitious country "Botnia" has committed an act of aggression against Estonia.
Invented by military analysts, the country was experiencing social, political and economic crisis, resulting in damage relations with foreign partners.As a result, conflicts resulted in a war that began with the invasion of "Botnia" in Estonia.On the basis of agreements on collective defense military-political bloc of NATO decided to immediately transfer the forces to protect the small Baltic state.
With some stage of the exercises observed by representatives of the Russian armed forces (in turn, a few months before this Joint maneuvers of the Russian Federation and Belarus have seen military NATO).NATO Leaders spoke about the possibility of carrying out joint military activities with Russia.The experts noted that mutual openness of NATO and Russia in military exercises enhances trust.
NATO and the United States - the leading military power unit - planned exercises in the southern European countries in 2015.It is expected that they will be involved about 40 thousand soldiers.
Weapons Alliance
Russian military experts have called a few samples of military equipment unit, unique in the world there is no or very little.This weapon of NATO, saying the high combat capability of the Army of the Alliance.Russia, military analysts believe, need to be especially wary of the five types of weapons.Firstly, it is the British tank Challenger 2 production.He is armed with a 120-millimeter cannon and equipped with heavy armor.The tank is able to move at a good speed - about 25 miles per hour.Secondly, it is a submarine that is collected by the so-called "Project 212" by the German defense companies.It is characterized by low noise emission, decent speed (20 knots), excellent weapons (torpedoes WASS 184, DM2A4), as well as missile systems.Third, NATO has the military combat aircraft Eurofighter Typhoon.Its characteristics are close to the fighters of the so-called fifth generation - the American F-22 and Russian T-50.The machine is equipped with a 27 mm cannon and a variety of types of missiles "air-to-air" and "air-to-ground."Some experts believe that the resist on the Typhoon can still only the new models of Russian aircraft such as the Su-35.Another notable appearance on NATO - Eurocopter Tiger helicopter co-production of France and Germany.According to its characteristics it is close to the legendary American AH-64 "Apache", but smaller in size and weight, which can give the car an advantage in combat.The helicopter is armed with a variety of missiles ("air-air" anti-).The missile Spike, which is produced by defense companies Israel - another example of the arms of NATO, to which the Russian military, according to analysts, is worth paying attention.Spike - effective anti-tank weapons.Its peculiarity lies in equipping warhead of two stages: the first hit the outer layer of armor, the second - the internal.
military bases Alliance
on the territory of each country of the Alliance has at least one military base of NATO.For example, consider Hungary as a former Soviet bloc country.First there was a NATO base here in 1998.The US government has used the Hungarian airfield "Tasar" during the operation with Yugoslavia - hence emitted mainly drones and aircraft F-18.At the same Air Force Base in 2003, trained military specialists from among the opposition groups in Iraq (shortly before the US Army fighting in the Middle Eastern country).Speaking of the allies of the Americans among the Western countries on the deployment on its territory of military bases, it is worth special mention Italy.Immediately after the Second World War this country was placed at large contingents of naval forces of the USA.
Now the Pentagon operates ports in Naples and airfields in Vicenza, Piacenza, Trapani Istranov and many other Italian cities.The most famous NATO base in Italy - "Air".It was built in the 50's, but still many military experts considered the best in the region.On it, not counting the infrastructure for take-off and landing, there hangars in which aircraft equipment can take shelter in case of bombing.Any navigational equipment, the use of which may be carried out combat missions at night and in almost any weather.Among the new NATO bases in Europe - the "Bezmer", "Graf Ignatievo" and "New Village" in Bulgaria.How to calculate the government of this Balkan country, placing NATO troops will strengthen the security of the state, as well as have a positive impact on the level of training of the armed forces.
Russia and NATO
Russia and NATO, despite a long history of political confrontation in the 20th century, attempts to make the constructive cooperation on the international arena.As mentioned above, in 1991, it signed a number of documents on the joint solution of certain issues in world politics.In 1994, initiated by the Russian Federation joined the NATO program "Partnership for Peace".In 1997, NATO and Russia signed the act on cooperation and security, was created the Permanent Joint Council, who soon became the main resource in the search for consensus during the consultations between Russia and the bloc.Events in Kosovo, according to analysts, is strongly undermined mutual trust Russia and the alliance.But, despite this, the collaboration continued.In particular, the Council's work includes regular diplomatic meetings between the ambassadors and representatives of the Army.The main directions of cooperation in the framework of the Council - the fight against terrorism, control of weapons of mass destruction, missile defense, as well as cooperation in emergency situations.One of the key points of cooperation - the suppression of drug trafficking in Central Asia.Relations between the block and Russia soured after the war in Georgia in August 2008, resulting in a dialogue within the Council "Russia-NATO" has been suspended.But in the summer of 2009, thanks to the efforts of the Foreign Ministers, the Council resumed its work on a number of key areas.
Prospects NATO
Some experts believe that the continued existence of NATO and the prospects for expanding the influence of the unit depends on the state of the economy of the participating countries.The fact that the military partnership in the framework of the organization implies a certain percentage of the state budget expenditures on defense allies.But now the situation in the fiscal policy of many developed countries is far from ideal.Governments in a number of NATO member states, as analysts have no financial resources for large-scale investments in the armed forces.Moreover, the example of the United States - it has been estimated that the military intervention of recent years have brought the US economy losses and a half trillion dollars.
