Signed in Washington: Portugal is one of the twelve original parties to the North Atlantic Treaty

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Signed in Washington: Portugal is one of the twelve original parties to the North Atlantic Treaty

Background

Portugal is one of the twelve founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The other eleven are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.
They signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C. on 4 April 1949.
NATO now has 32 member countries, Sweden being the thirty-second.
NATO's purpose under the treaty is the collective defence of its members.

Founding members: 12 Treaty signed at: Washington, D.C. Members today: 32

Why it matters for exams: The founding members of NATO, where the treaty was signed and the current number of members are repeatedly asked facts.

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25 October 2026 Source: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

In plain words

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization — A military alliance of European and North American countries founded by the North Atlantic Treaty.

North Atlantic Treaty — The founding treaty of NATO, signed in Washington, D.C.