N9: NATO at 75 - Will the Alliance exist at 80?

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military and political alliance founded in 1949 and dedicated to ensuring the security and freedom of its members. In the decades since it began, NATO has grown in structure and members into the organization it is today: 31 members + 1 (Sweden). The United States is the largest financial contributor to NATO and a key member of the alliance. With a large network of members and resources, NATO aims to hold its members to a standard of democracy and intervenes to defuse conflicts before they happen. However, there is continuous debate over how to handle NATO member states experiencing democratic backsliding or failure to abide by the NATO imposed financial restrictions. In addition, conflict is deterred by the collective defense aspect of NATO, where an attack on one member is an attack on all members. Despite its shortcomings and the challenges it faces, it is often considered to be one of the most successful international alliances in history.

Purpose: Learn about NATO's history and its future

Facilitators: Peter Borré (Guest Presenter - Bonita Bay), Natalie Fisher (Guest Presenter), Lisa Koppel (Guest Presenter)