“NATO was founded on the basis of a simple but solemn commitment: An attack on one is an attack on all. And from that foundation we forged the strongest Alliance in history, an Alliance that is stronger because it is made up of free nations.”

                                                                                                     – President Obama, April 4, 2009

On April 3-4, NATO celebrated its 60th anniversary at a Summit Meeting of NATO Heads of State in Strasbourg, France and Kehl, Germany. In addition to commemorating six decades of common transatlantic security and values, this Summit marked historic decisions and new commitments made by the Alliance. Summit high points included: two new NATO members: Albania and Croatia; a renewed commitment to Afghanistan, with real deliverables on Election Support Force, operational mentoring and liaison teams (OMLTs), and financial support and a new NATO Training Mission for Afghanistan; the launch of work on a new NATO Strategic Concept; French reintegration into the NATO military command structure; and agreement on a new Secretary General.

At the completion of the Summit, President Obama noted the great progress made in these areas and remarked, “NATO was founded upon mutual responsibility to our common security. And today I'm confident that we took a substantial step forward in renewing our Alliance to meet the challenges of our time.”