1952 3¢ NATO
US #1008 was issued on the third anniversary of the treaty’s signing.

On August 24, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty came into force, officially establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The stability of world politics took a dramatic turn at the end of World War II.  The Soviet Union was gaining power in Europe.  Military strength became a leading concern among non-communist countries that feared they would be unable to defend against Soviet aggression.

1959 4¢ NATO
US #1127 pictures the NATO emblem – a compass rose symbolizing the path of peace.

On March 17, 1948, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and the United Kingdom signed the Treaty of Brussels.  This treaty expanded on the defense pledge of the Dunkirk Treaty of the year before.  Three months later the Soviets began their blockade of Berlin, blocking supply routes to the area of Berlin under Western control.  This led to the formation of the Western Union Defense Organization in September 1948.  Realizing the military strength of the United States would be necessary to stop a potential communist attack, talks began for a new alliance.

1993 29¢ Dean Acheson
US #2755 was issued for Dean Acheson’s 100th birthday.

In 1948, European leaders traveled to the United States to meet with American military leaders and diplomats to discuss a new treaty.  They met with President Harry Truman’s secretary of State, Dean Acheson.  The resulting North Atlantic Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949, in Washington, DC.  The participating nations were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  After all of the nations ratified the treaty, it came into effect on August 24, 1949.

Member countries agreed to maintain a unified military force to defend against Soviet invasion, and pledged to consider an attack on one as an attack on all of them.  NATO’s first secretary general stated the organization’s goal as to “keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down.”

1999 33¢ NATO
US #3354 – The issue of this stamp in 1999 was delayed due to the NATO-led Operation Allied Force, which involved air strikes staged against Yugoslavia.

The Korean War was the first test of the alliance.  Though it was not on the soil of any NATO country, it demonstrated the threat of communist expansion.  The organization responded with a military plan establishing the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) as the command structure.  Sixteen UN countries joined South Korea in its fight to stop the advance.

1999 Canada NATO FDC
Item #8632073 – Canada First Day Cover honoring the 50th anniversary of NATO

In 1954, the Soviet Union asked to join NATO to ensure peace in Europe.  Seen as a ploy to weaken the alliance, the country’s request was rejected.  The following year, the Soviets joined with seven other communist nations to form the Warsaw Pact.  This led to two opposing sides during the Cold War.  After the Revolutions of 1989 that brought an end to communism in Eastern Europe, NATO sought to improve relationships with former Warsaw Pact countries.

1999 33¢ NATO Mystic First Day Cover
US #3354 – First Day Cover picturing US and worldwide NATO stamps

Though NATO was established to provide mutual military support, the combined forces were never called upon to fight on European or American soil during the Cold War.  Most of NATO’s money and troops have come from the US, which has greatly increased American influence in Europe.  Past NATO commanders have included generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and Alexander Haig.  Today, NATO consists of the twelve original member states plus 18 that have been added since then.  This includes former members of the Warsaw Pact, with some of the new NATO members formerly part of the Soviet Union.  Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Finland and Sweden were officially invited to join NATO.  Their accession must be approved by all current NATO members, which as of this date, 23 members have.  Furthermore, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine have expressed interest in joining.  The organization’s headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.

1974 18¢ Air Post Envelope, red & blue NATO emblem
US #UC49 – NATO 25th anniversary Air Post Envelope
1952 3¢ NATO Classic First Day Cover
US #1008 – Classic First Day Cover
1959 4¢ Nato Classic First Day Cover
US #1127 – Classic First Day Cover
US #3354 – Colorano Silk Cachet Combination First Day Cover

Click here to read the North Atlantic Treaty.

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  • Be nice and remember, we are all here to collect stamps!

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