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Founded in 1949 to protect Western countries from communism, Nato became the world's most powerful regional defence alliance. But since the end of the Cold War it has assumed a range of new roles.
Originally composed of 12 member countries (today it has 26 and will expand to 28 over the next two years), the fundamental role of Nato was to 'safeguard freedom and security of member countries'.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, a number of Soviet-allied countries were absorbed into the alliance. It started to look beyond its original sphere of operation and assumed a role of 'consolidating an undivided Europe.'
In 1994, Nato offered former members of the Warsaw Pact, a Soviet counter-alliance, limited association by launching the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme, which is seen as a first step toward membership.
By the late 90s, relations with Russia thawed. In 1997, the Nato-Russia Permanent Joint Council was established to give Russia a consultative role in discussion of matters of mutual interest. In 2002 the Nato-Russia Council was established, giving Russia an equal role with Nato countries in decision making policy.
By the 90s Nato also started to adopt more 'out of area activities'.
For the first time, in 1994, Nato took a military action when it shot down four Bosnian Serb aircraft violating a UN-mandated no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The alliance's first large-scale military operation took place in 1999 during the Kosovo war. In the same year Nato expanded east, launching the Mediterranean Dialogue, a forum including seven states including Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
