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The founding of Nato
In 1949, a group of 12 countries formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to block the expansion of the Soviet Union.
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.
The UK’s foreign secretary at the time, Ernest Bevin, played a key role in persuading the US to join the alliance.
This programme, produced and presented by Vicky Farncombe, tells the story of Nato's founding using archive interviews.
(Credit: Ernest Bevin signs the North Atlantic treaty. Credit: Getty Images)
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Fri 29 Mar 2024
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