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 2026-09-20

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 2023 Confidence: High Assessed as of 2026-06 Last reviewed 2026-09-01

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-01

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20

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 2026-09-20