What is Nato and which countries are members?

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Sweden has moved one step closer to joining Nato, after the Turkish parliament approved its membership.

The military defence organisation, which brings together countries from Europe and North America, is recruiting new members and bolstering its defences following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

What is Nato and when was it set up?

Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.

Its aim was to block expansion by the then Soviet Union - a group of states which included Russia.

Members agree that if one of them is attacked, all other nations should help it - which could include using armed force.

Nato does not have an army of its own, but member countries can take collective military action in response to crises. They also coordinate military plans and carry out joint military exercises.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nato said that it posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security".

Which countries are Nato members?

Nato has 31 members across Europe and North America.

After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Sweden and Finland applied to join in May 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two countries feared for their security.

Finland - which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia - became a Nato member in April 2023.

Sweden's bid for membership was finally approved by the Turkish parliament on 23 January.

Turkey had been blocking Sweden's application, because it said the country had refused to hand over members of militant groups such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (the PKK).

Now, Sweden only needs Hungary's parliament to approve its membership.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, also want to join Nato.

How Sweden and Finland went from neutral to Nato

When will Ukraine join Nato?

Nato has said that Ukraine can become a member, but has not confirmed when this will happen.

It refused Ukrainian President Zelensky's request for "fast-track" membership in September 2022.

Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg has told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term"

Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its own territory.

Kyiv accepts it cannot join Nato while it is at war with Russia, but wants to join as soon as possible after fighting ends.

Since July 2023, the Nato-Ukraine Council has coordinated efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.

Ukraine wants more than warm words over joining Nato

What weapons are Nato countries giving Ukraine?

As a group, Nato has not sent weapons to Ukraine, but several individual member countries have done so.

The US, UK, Germany and Turkey have provided anti-tank weapons, missile defence systems, artillery guns, tanks and military drones.

The US and UK have also supplied long-range missiles.

The US is supplying long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

The US has let Nato countries offer its fighter jets, such as F-16s, to Ukraine, and teach pilots how to fly them.

The Netherlands said it may soon deliver 18 F-16 jets.

However, Nato countries are not sending troops to Ukraine, or using their air forces to impose a no-fly zone over the region, because that could provoke a direct conflict with Russia.

Since December, US politicians have failed to agree new funding for military aid for Ukraine. However, the UK government has pledged £2.5bn.

What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?

How is Nato increasing its defences against Russia?

In 2023, Nato commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks in the Arctic and north Atlantic, central Europe, or the Mediterranean region.

In February 2024, Nato will stage one of its largest military exercises since the end of the Cold War.

The Steadfast Defender exercise in Eastern Europe will involve 90,000 personnel from all 31 Nato countries plus Sweden. The UK is sending 20,000 personnel.

Nato previously announced plans to increase the number of its troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000.

It has also bolstered its defences on its eastern flank, bordering Russia.

There are currently eight battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the Baltic Republics. Before the war in Ukraine, there were four.

Nato countries have also been increasing their military budgets.

Several are now spending more than 2% of their national incomes on defence - which Nato says is a minimum. However, many countries are spending less than this.