Benelux, France, and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Brussels, a precursor to the North Atlantic Treaty establishing NATO.

A riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, when Iceland joins NATO.

Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty creating the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The treaty creating NATO goes into effect.

US General Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes supreme commander of NATO-Europe

Dwight D. Eisenhower resigns as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.

Cold War: West Germany joins NATO.

In a speech John F. Kennedy emphasizes that any attack on Berlin is an attack on NATO.

Spiegel scandal: ''Der Spiegel'' publishes the article ''"Bedingt abwehrbereit"'' (''"Conditionally prepared for defense"'') about a NATO manoeuver called "Fallex 62", which uncovered the sorry state of the Bundeswehr (Germany's army) facing the communist threat from the east at the time. The magazine is soon accused of treason.

Turkish occupation of Cyprus: Forces from Turkey invade Cyprus after a "coup d' etat", organised by the dictator of Greece, against president Makarios. NATO's Council praises the United States and the United Kingdom for attempts to settle the dispute. Syria and Egypt put their militaries on alert.

United States Navy F-14 fighter jets intercept an Egyptian plane carrying the ''Achille Lauro'' cruise ship hijackers and force it to land at a NATO base in Sigonella, Sicily where they are arrested.

Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti reveals to the Italian parliament the existence of Gladio, the Italian "stay-behind" clandestine paramilitary NATO army.

United States Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady's F-16 is shot down over Bosnia while patrolling the NATO no-fly zone.

NATO launches Operation Deliberate Force against Bosnian Serb forces.

NATO begins peacekeeping in Bosnia.

NATO invites the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join the alliance in 1999.

The Euro currency is introduced in 11 countries - members of NATO (with the exception of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Sweden).

Former Warsaw Pact members the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join NATO.

Kosovo War: NATO commences air bombardment against Yugoslavia, marking the first time NATO has attacked a sovereign country.

NATO mistakenly bombs a convoy of ethnic Albanian refugees – Yugoslav officials say 75 people are killed.

Kosovo War: In Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, three Chinese citizens are killed and 20 wounded when a NATO aircraft bombs the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

Kosovo War: NATO suspends its air strikes after Slobodan Milošević agrees to withdraw Serbian forces from Kosovo.

Kosovo War: Operation Joint Guardian begins when a NATO-led United Nations peacekeeping force (KFor) enters the province of Kosovo in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

NATO decides to send a peace-keeping force to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

NATO backs U.S. military strikes following 9/11.

NATO confirms invocation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

NATO declares Russia a limited partner in the Western alliance.

NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.

France and Belgium break the NATO procedure of silent approval concerning the timing of protective measures for Turkey in case of a possible war with Iraq.

NATO takes over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia join NATO as full members.

Croatia and Albania join NATO