Which 12 countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949?

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Flag of NATO featuring a white compass rose emblem with four lines radiating from the center on a blue background. — North Atlantic Treaty Organization Flag of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The North Atlantic Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949, by 12 founding member states. These original signatories were:

Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
United Kingdom
United States

These nations established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to provide collective security and create a military counterweight to the Soviet Union in the aftermath of World War II.12