The North Atlantic Treaty--Preamble and Principles

The Preamble of the North Atlantic Treaty serves an important purpose separate from the articles under the treaty. The Preamble provides the basis for an additional aspect of the North Atlantic Treaty, to foster an international community that encourages cooperation in multiple fields additional to that of defense. Not all of the additional twelve Allies were a party to the North Atlantic Treaty, and throughout the 70-year history more members have joined the treaty alliance. This Article considers the mutual values and motivating ideas of the North Atlantic Alliance, putting emphasis on the continuation for all joining parties to the North Atlantic Treaty. The values that motivated the North Atlantic Treaty during its formation continue to frame the context of the North Atlantic Treaty today. Further, the Article goes on to discuss the history and preparatory work of the Preamble and how it can be seen reflected in the different articles making up the North Atlantic Treaty