Time Line

1949, April- The North Atlantic Treaty in Washington DC was signed by twelve states; Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the United States.

1990- NATO and Warsaw Pact states sign the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe treaty (CFE) and publish a joint declaration on non-aggression.

1993- NATO agree to offer former Warsaw Pact members limited associations with the alliance in the form of the partnership for peace programme.

1995- NATO went on board its first-ever military operation by launching a campaign of air strikes against Bosnian Serb positions to force the Bosnian Serbs to negotiate a peace settlement.

2001, September- After 11 attacks in September on targets in the US, Secretary- General Robertson refers to Article Five of the alliance's constitutional saying an attack on one is seen as an attack on all.

2002, May- Russian, NATO foreign ministers agree to set up NATO-Russia council, in which Russia and NATO will have equal role in decision- making on policy to counter terrorism and other security threats.

2002, November- Seven countries were invited to join alliance in summit Prague; Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

2003, August- NATO takes control of the international security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, its first major operation outside Europe.

2003, October- NATO launches 9,000 member rapid.