Relationships

A partnership NATO says it can no longer have, with the machinery for one still formally in place and not meeting.

Active Since 2014-04 Last change 2022-02 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-14

Participation that is territorial rather than military — and the reason the northern axis is a standing question rather than a closed one.

Active Since 2022-02 Last change 2025-12 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-06 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Bulgaria hosts a battlegroup that Italy leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2017 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Estonia hosts a battlegroup that the United Kingdom leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2017 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Finland hosts a battlegroup that Sweden leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2026-06 Last change 2026-06 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Latvia hosts a brigade that Canada leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2017 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Lithuania hosts a brigade that Germany leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2017 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Poland hosts a battlegroup that the United States leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2017 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-14

Romania hosts a battlegroup that France leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2017 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-14

Slovakia hosts a battlegroup that Spain leads — the political half of NATO's forward presence, not its command arrangement.

Active Since 2024-07-01 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-14

The bilateral framework for US forces' access to agreed Danish facilities, signed in December 2023 at the entrance to the Baltic Sea.

Active Since 2023-12-19 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2023-12-19 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The 2017 bilateral framework for the presence and activities of US forces in Estonia, signed in the first year of NATO's forward presence.

Active Since 2017-07-06 Last change 2017-07-06 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2017-07-06 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The bilateral framework for US forces' access to agreed Finnish facilities, signed in December 2023 on the alliance's longest border with Russia.

Active Since 2023-12-18 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2023-12-18 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The bilateral framework for German–Polish defence cooperation signed in Warsaw on 17 June 2026, replacing the 2011 arrangement.

Active Since 2026-06-17 Last change 2026-06-17 Confidence: Moderate Assessed as of 2026-06-17 Last reviewed 2026-10-21

The 2017 bilateral framework for the presence and activities of US forces in Latvia, the first of the three Baltic agreements to be signed.

Active Since 2017-01 Confidence: Moderate Assessed as of 2017-01 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The 2017 bilateral framework for US forces in Lithuania — and, since 2026, the setting for Lithuania's request for a permanent US base, which no US decision has answered.

Active Since 2017-02-27 Last change 2017-02-27 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-10-25 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The bilateral legal framework under which US forces operate in Poland — and the reason the first permanently stationed US forces on the flank are there.

Active Since 2020 Last change 2022-06 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2025-01-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

A twenty-year-old framework for US access to Romanian bases, on the alliance's Black Sea shoulder.

Active Since 2005 Last change 2020-10 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2025-01-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The bilateral framework for US forces' access to agreed Swedish facilities, signed in December 2023 while Sweden's accession was still pending.

Active Since 2023-12-05 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2023-12-05 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

A leadership whose survival, energy and export access have all run through Moscow since the protests it did not lose.

Active Since 2020 Last change 2022-02 Confidence: Moderate Assessed as of 2026-06 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Belgium in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Bulgaria in the alliance since 2004 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2004-03-29 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Canada in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Czechia in the alliance since 1999 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1999-03-12 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Denmark in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Estonia in the alliance since 2004 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2004-03-29 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Finland in the alliance since 2023 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2023-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

France in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Germany in the alliance since 1955 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1955-05-06 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Hungary in the alliance since 1999 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1999-03-12 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Italy in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Latvia in the alliance since 2004 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2004-03-29 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Lithuania in the alliance since 2004 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2004-03-29 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Netherlands in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Norway in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Poland in the alliance since 1999 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1999-03-12 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Romania in the alliance since 2004 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2004-03-29 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Slovakia in the alliance since 2004 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2004-03-29 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Spain in the alliance since 1982 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1982-05-30 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Sweden in the alliance since 2024 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 2024-03-07 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Türkiye in the alliance since 1952 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1952-02-18 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The United Kingdom in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

The United States in the alliance since 1949 — the commitment every other record in this module rests on.

Active Since 1949-04-04 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

A partnership frozen in 2021 and never ended, with dialogue kept open and nothing practical running through it.

Suspended Since 1992 Last change 2021 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-09-28

A partnership with a constitutionally neutral state, which NATO says it fully respects — and which is not a step towards membership.

Active Since 1994 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29

Two organisations with twenty-three members in common, cooperating where the eastern flank's obstacles are regulatory rather than military.

Active Since 2016-07 Last change 2023-01 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-09-20 Last reviewed 2026-10-29