Info on NATO: Member States, Legal Foundations
- Mike Miller
- Jun 6
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 7
The #NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance founded in 1949. Its primary purpose is the collective defense of its members.
Mutual Defense Clause: If one member is attacked, the others consider it an attack on themselves (Article 5 of the NATO Treaty).
Information on NTS - NATO - Troop Statute SOFA, HNS Agreements, and their relationship to the UN.
A. Purpose of NATO - Defense
Collective Defense: Protection of member states against military attacks.
Peacekeeping: Participation in international missions for peace preservation.
Cooperation: Promotion of political and military collaboration.
Security: Contribution to international stability.
B. Foundation and Legal Basis
Founding Treaty:
North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty), signed on April 4, 1949.
Legal Basis: International treaty.
Members commit to mutual defense, democracy, rule of law, and peaceful conflict resolution.
Key Articles:
Article 1: Commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
Article 5: Obligation to provide assistance in case of an attack.
Articles 6 & 9: Definition of responsibilities, e.g., NATO Council.
C. Additional Legal Frameworks
a) SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement)
Purpose: Regulates the legal status of NATO troops in the host country.
Significance: Who has jurisdiction over crimes? Who is liable for damages?
Example: A U.S. soldier in Germany is primarily subject to U.S. military law, but the host country (e.g., Germany) has limited prosecution rights.
b) HNS (Host Nation Support)
Purpose: Regulates logistical support for NATO troops by the host country.
Significance: Storage, transportation, infrastructure, medical services.
Legal Basis: Mostly bilateral agreements, often within the framework of NATO law.
D. Relationship to the UN
Chapter VII of the UN Charter:
Allows the UN Security Council to take measures to maintain peace, including military actions.
Connection to UN Missions: NATO can conduct operations on behalf of the UN (e.g., Kosovo, Afghanistan).
Close cooperation based on international law compatibility.
a) NATO as a UN Combat Force
NATO can conduct military operations when:
Article 5 is activated (e.g., after 9/11).
A UN mandate exists (e.g., ISAF in Afghanistan).
At the request of a state (e.g., Libya 2011 with UN mandate).
b) Military Communication Law (International)
NATO uses its own international system for encrypted communication (e.g., Link 16).
c) Legally Regulated by:
NATO Standards (STANAGs).
Agreements between member states.
Agreements with third countries in joint missions.
Goal: Secure, interoperable communication in operations.
E. NATO Member States
E. NATO Member States
Belgium
Denmark
France
Iceland
Italy
Canada
Luxembourg
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
United Kingdom
United States of America (USA)
Greece
Turkey
Federal Republic of Germany
Spain
Poland
Czech Republic
Hungary
Bulgaria
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Albania
Croatia
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Finland
Sweden
Total: 32 (as of 2025)
F. NATO
Secretary General: Mark Rutte (since 2024)
SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe): General Christopher G. Cavoli (since 2022)
SACT (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation): Admiral Pierre Vandier (since 2021)
Founded: April 4, 1949
Official and Working Languages: English, French
NATO Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Reservists: approx. 2.11 million
Total Troop Strength: approx. 3.46 million (as of 2021)
Budget: 4.6 billion EUR (as of 2025)
G. NATO und die UN
NATO and the UNTheir legal foundations, use of global infrastructure, and the connection between both organizations.
1. NATO Declaration
The NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance founded in 1949. Its core purpose is the collective defense of its member states. This means that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.
2. UN Declaration
The UN (United Nations) is an international organization founded in 1945, with the primary goals of maintaining world peace and international security, promoting international cooperation in addressing economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian issues, and advancing human rights. Unlike NATO, which is a defense alliance, the UN is a global platform for dialogue, diplomacy, and cooperation, encompassing nearly all countries worldwide.
3. Legal Basis and Links to Legal Sources
NATO: The primary legal basis for NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty), signed on April 4, 1949.
Article 5 of this treaty is the central pillar of collective defense.
UN: The legal basis for the UN is the United Nations Charter, signed on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco. The Charter outlines the organization’s purposes, principles, organs, and procedures.
H. Lexicon of NATO Members
Lexicon of NATO Members
Country (Abbrev.) | Accession | Capital (Population) | Population | Troop Strength (2025) |
Belgium (BE) | 04.04.1949 | Brussels (185,000) | 11,700,000 | 38,000 |
Denmark (DK) | 04.04.1949 | Copenhagen (650,000) | 5,900,000 | 17,000 |
France (FR) | 04.04.1949 | Paris (2,140,000) | 67,400,000 | 203,000 |
Iceland (IS) | 04.04.1949 | Reykjavík (135,000) | 376,000 | 0 (no army) |
Italy (IT) | 04.04.1949 | Rome (2,870,000) | 59,100,000 | 170,000 |
Canada (CA) | 04.04.1949 | Ottawa (1,010,000) | 39,600,000 | 68,000 |
Luxembourg (LU) | 04.04.1949 | Luxembourg (135,000) | 660,000 | 950 |
Netherlands (NL) | 04.04.1949 | Amsterdam (880,000) | 17,900,000 | 47,000 |
Norway (NO) | 04.04.1949 | Oslo (700,000) | 5,500,000 | 24,000 |
Portugal (PT) | 04.04.1949 | Lisbon (545,000) | 10,300,000 | 27,000 |
United Kingdom (UK) | 04.04.1949 | London (8,900,000) | 67,000,000 | 194,000 |
USA (US) | 04.04.1949 | Washington, D.C. (705,000) | 333,000,000 | 1,330,000 |
Greece (GR) | 18.02.1952 | Athens (3,150,000) | 10,300,000 | 93,000 |
Turkey (TR) | 18.02.1952 | Ankara (5,100,000) | 85,000,000 | 425,000 |
Germany (DE) | 06.05.1955 | Berlin (3,600,000) | 84,400,000 | 182,000 |
Spain (ES) | 30.05.1982 | Madrid (3,300,000) | 48,300,000 | 119,000 |
Poland (PL) | 12.03.1999 | Warsaw (1,790,000) | 37,600,000 | 155,000 |
Czech Republic (CZ) | 12.03.1999 | Prague (1,280,000) | 10,800,000 | 27,000 |
Hungary (HU) | 12.03.1999 | Budapest (1,700,000) | 9,600,000 | 29,000 |
Bulgaria (BG) | 29.03.2004 | Sofia (1,230,000) | 6,500,000 | 27,000 |
Romania (RO) | 29.03.2004 | Bucharest (1,760,000) | 19,500,000 | 69,000 |
Slovakia (SK) | 29.03.2004 | Bratislava (440,000) | 5,400,000 | 17,000 |
Slovenia (SI) | 29.03.2004 | Ljubljana (300,000) | 2,100,000 | 7,000 |
Estonia (EE) | 29.03.2004 | Tallinn (450,000) | 1,300,000 | 7,000 |
Latvia (LV) | 29.03.2004 | Riga (620,000) | 1,800,000 | 6,500 |
Lithuania (LT) | 29.03.2004 | Vilnius (570,000) | 2,700,000 | 18,000 |
Albania (AL) | 01.04.2009 | Tirana (420,000) | 2,700,000 | 8,000 |
Croatia (HR) | 01.04.2009 | Zagreb (770,000) | 3,900,000 | 15,000 |
Montenegro (ME) | 05.06.2017 | Podgorica (185,000) | 620,000 | 2,000 |
North Macedonia (MK) | 27.03.2020 | Skopje (505,000) | 1,800,000 | 8,000 |
Finland (FI) | 04.04.2023 | Helsinki (655,000) | 5,500,000 | 24,000 |
Sweden (SE) | 07.03.2024 | Stockholm (1,600,000) | 10,500,000 | 25,000 |
Observer States
Country | Capital | Capital Population | Country Population | Troop Strength (2025) |
Ukraine (UA) | Kyiv | 2,900,000 | 36,700,000 | 500,000+ |
Bosnia-Herzeg. (BA) | Sarajevo | 275,000 | 3,200,000 | 10,000 |
Georgia (GE) | Tbilisi | 1,100,000 | 3,700,000 | 37,000 |
4. Focus on NATO and UN: Global Infrastructure Use in Communication and Legal Foundations
Both NATO and the UN rely on robust and reliable communication infrastructure for their operations. This includes not only their own military or internal networks but also the use of civilian infrastructure. The legal foundations for this use are complex and include international agreements, national laws, and specific arrangements.
NATO SOFA / UN SOFA
These agreements regulate the status of armed forces or missions in a host country. They often include provisions governing the use of civilian facilities and services by deployed forces or UN personnel, including telecommunications and energy services.
Legal Basis: Bilateral or multilateral agreements between host countries and NATO/UN. There is no single “NATO SOFA” or “UN SOFA,” but rather a variety of agreements tailored to specific situations.
A prominent example is the NATO SOFA of June 19, 1951.Host Nation Support (HNS) Agreements
HNS agreements are the primary framework for regulating the use of civilian infrastructure. They specify which infrastructure is provided, to what extent, the technical requirements, and how costs are settled.
Legal Basis: Bilateral international treaties or agreements.
National Emergency Laws
In many countries, laws exist that allow military or state authorities to seize or prioritize civilian infrastructure (e.g., telecommunications networks or power supplies) in cases of disaster or defense.
Legal Basis: National laws of the respective countries (e.g., in Germany, the Telecommunications Act (TKG) or the Communication Security Act (KGSG) in crisis situations).
ITU Regulations
While the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) does not regulate military operations, its frequency allocation and standardization significantly influence the compatibility of military and civilian communication systems.
Legal Basis: International treaties administered by the ITU (e.g., the ITU Constitution and Convention).
Conclusion for NATO
For an organization like NATO, strategic planning of the use of civilian communication and cable infrastructure is crucial. The goal is to maximize benefits (cost-efficiency, reach, rapid availability) while minimizing associated risks (security, dependency, resilience). Compliance with international agreements and national laws is essential to ensure smooth international communication in peacetime and during crises.
5. Explanation of the NATO-UN Connection as a UN Combat Force and Legal Basis
NATO is not a permanent UN combat force in the direct sense, but a specific legal basis establishes NATO as a “UN combat force” by agreement. The relationship between NATO and the UN is complex and based on ad-hoc cooperation in specific operations.
No Subordination
NATO is an independent organization with its own command structure and decision-making processes. It is not fully subordinate to the United Nations but collaborates closely in certain operational scenarios.
UN Security Council Mandates
When NATO participates in peacekeeping missions or other operations related to the UN Charter, it typically does so based on a UN Security Council mandate.
Example Kosovo (KFOR): NATO conducted operations there mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).
Legal Basis for Cooperation
The legal basis for such cooperation lies in the UN Charter itself (particularly Chapter VII, which addresses measures for threats to or breaches of peace and acts of aggression).
Additionally, bilateral or multilateral agreements are made between NATO, the UN, or the involved states.
NATO and the UN are independent organizations that can act together based on UN mandates or cooperation agreements. NATO remains an independent military actor that supports UN objectives but is not under UN command.
I. Use of Civilian Infrastructure by NATO - Legal Basis
a) NATO Troop Statute (NATO SOFA)
Regulates the legal status of NATO forces in the host country.
Articles V & VI: Permit the use of infrastructure under certain conditions.
Civilian Infrastructure Use: Usually regulated by additional agreements (e.g., Germany: Supplementary Agreement to the NATO SOFA of 1959).
Example: Use of German telecommunications networks by U.S. forces.
b) HNS (Host Nation Support)
Regulates logistical and technical support, including access to:
Electricity, water, telecommunicationsTransportation routes, ports, airports
National laws (e.g., Telecommunications Act, TKG) must allow exceptions for alliance obligations.
Use of Civilian Infrastructure by NATO
Civilian and military networks: Internet, telecommunications, cable TV, broadbandInfrastructure use by NATO
J. Military Communication via Civilian Networks
a) Dual Use: civilian and military NATO uses, e.g.:
civilian internet (with military encryption)
fiber optic, fixed-line telephone, mobile, and satellite networks
broadband access, also via commercial providers (e.g., TKS Telepost, Vodafone) Legal basis through:
bilateral technical agreements
NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) rules
national permits by regulatory authorities (e.g., BNetzA in Germany)
b) Examples: TKS Telepost, AFN
TKS offers broadband, VoIP, English TV for NATO bases. https://www.tkscable.com/service/shops Contractually regulated with the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) and the Federal Ministry of Defence (Bundesverteidigungsministerium).
AFN (American Forces Network) broadcasts programs via civilian frequencies – permitted by frequency allocations on a NATO basis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Forces_Network?wprov=sfla1
K. The use of the NATO property occurred according to the State Succession Document during the US Army occupation as a "military network hub of the US Armed Forces" until the 1990s.
History of the NATO property: In 1960, the complete handover of the Krzbkaserne (Kreuzberg Barracks) in ZW-RLP (ZW, Rhineland-Palatinate) from the French garrison to the US Armed Forces. In 1967, the withdrawal of US troops stationed in France was decided. Subsequently, the "Supply and Maintenance Agency" moved into the barracks.
This facility was the first logistical establishment of USAREUR (United States Army Europe) to use an internationally networked computer system called "MOBIDIC." Within NATO, this system was dubbed "Moby Dick."
The Information Systems Engineering Command (ISEC-EUR), previously known as the Computer System Command, was stationed in the Krzbkaserne.
It functioned as a service provider for technical computer services and was technically responsible for supplying US facilities in ZW-RLP and the region with English-language television and radio programs.
The operation was managed centrally from the NATO Krzbgkaserne (Kreuzberg Barracks). The television programs of the American Forces Network (AFN) were broadcast via terrestrial transmitters as well as its own cable network and through the use of civilian infrastructure. The TV offering included news, sports, and entertainment and was specifically aimed at the target group of US military personnel abroad. The content was transmitted via satellite from the USA (including via SATNET) and processed locally.
The US properties in ZW-RLP, which included, among others, a former military airport, barracks, schools, and housing estates such as the French or Canadian Housing, were equipped with cable TV, among other things. Furthermore, this was also used by large parts of the German civilian population in the city. The use of civilian infrastructure such as electricity, water, and telecommunications, cable TV was based on the NTS (NATO Status of Forces Agreement) plus NTS supplementary agreement and Host Nation Support (HNS) agreements, which enabled the US Armed Forces and NATO to use them free of charge and also supply international military facilities (TKS Telepost - part of Vodafone).
L. Connection to UN & ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
a) UN Communication
NATO uses civilian networks for communication with UN missions (e.g., in Kosovo, Afghanistan).
Communication partially runs via standard protocols like IP, VPN, satellite links.
UN mandates often include consent for civilian network use, if secure.
b) ITU Framework
The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) provides global standards and rules for frequency use, security, and networks.
NATO aligns with these for compatible, secure communication, also via civilian infrastructure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Telecommunication_Union?wprov=sfla1
