TOUR OF NATO - AFTER MUSSELS IN BRUSSELS!

NATO HQ-Brussels, Belgium; Today we had the opportunity to visit and learn more about NATO! The North Atlantic Treaty organization is made up of 26 member countries from across Europe and North America. NATO is a political and military alliance that I believe (unfortunately) the average person back home in the states does not have a full understanding of.

NATO members work together to maintain unified security and defence forces. NATO brings together both continents to strengthen political and security cooperation abroad. That does not mean NATO will not consult and cooperate with non NATO members because it does. NATO works to avoid conflicts between member countries and beyond those borders as well. NATO also has a military alliance force too. NATO soldiers keep the peace when they are called upon. NATO can also help allies work through difficult times of disasterous situations.

An ambassador from each member country is part of permanent delegation at NATO HQ.

NATO is chaired by the Secretary General of NATO, who helps members agree on important issues. All decisions are based on a common consensus. Members can offer up soldiers as NATO forces voluntarily. Those soldiers will return to their native countries once their mission is complete.

Here is the list of NATO members and the year they joined:
Belgium -1949
Bulgaria-2004
Canada -1949
Czech Republic -1999
Denmark-1949
Estonia-2004
France-1949
Germany-1955
Greece-1952
Hungary-1999
Iceland-1949
Italy-1949
Latvia-2004
Lithuania-2004
Luxemburg-1949
Netherlands-1949
Norway-1949
Poland-1999
Portugal-1949
Romania-2004
Slovakia-2004
Slovenia-2004
Spain-1982
Turkey-1952
United Kingdom-1949
United States-1949

here is a list of our rundown for the day:
1.Meet with Mr. James Snyder a U.S. Information Officer with the Public Diplomacy Division

2.Meet with Mr. Robert Pszczel -Polish Information Officer with the Public Diplomacy Division. He spoke briefly about 'Selling NATO in a changing environment.'

3. Meeting with Mr. Gordon Breet with the NATO Operations Section. He gave us a briefing on NATO's Operation in Afghanistan.

4.Meeting with Ms. Rebecca Ross, the Deputy Public Affairs Advisor, U.S. Mission to NATO. She spoke on the American Perspective on NATO in the run up to the 60th Anniversary.

5. Lunch in the NATO Restaurant

Delicious Dinner at African Restaurant in Brussel's.
Kreik Beer - Delicious
Sightseeing - chocolate tasting - shopping and a night on the town