The primary goal of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), established in 1949, was to provide collective defense against potential aggression from the Soviet Union and its allies during the Cold War. The founding countries aimed to ensure mutual security and deter communist expansion through political and military means. The North Atlantic Treaty states that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all, promoting unity among Western nations. This organization has since evolved to include crisis management, cooperative security, and partnerships, contributing to global stability and peacekeeping operations worldwide.