NATO, an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance of North American and European countries that was established by the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949. The alliance was founded as a mutual defense organization, guaranteeing a defensive response if any member were to fall under attack.

On April 4, 2009, members of NATO appointed Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the new secretary-general of the organization, replacing former head Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Rasmussen had faced opposition from Turkish representatives because of his belief that composing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad should be allowed as a matter of personal freedom.The Washington Times: NATO leaders pick Dane as new secretary-general

President Barack Obama arrived in France for the two-day NATO summit, on April 3, 2009. Obama has pledged to send an addition 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and is seeking NATO's approval to serve as allies and send additional training forces to the region. Thousands were expected to protest the summit.Los Angeles Times: Obama in France for NATO summit (April 3, 2009) Meetings of the summit will also take place in the German cities of Kehl and Baden Baden.Los Angeles Times: Obama in France for NATO summit (April 3, 2009)

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, NATO has 26 members and 14 major allies. NATO has been involved in several military operations, including the Korean War, Bosnia War, Iraq War and Afghanistan War. The North Atlantic Council, which consists of ambassadors and senior government officials from the allied countries, is NATO's decision-making body.