What is NATO an acronym for?

NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which is a military alliance established in 1949. It was formed to promote collective defense and ensure mutual protection among member countries in the North Atlantic region. The founding principles of NATO are rooted in the idea that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. This collective security arrangement was especially significant during the Cold War as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union.

The other options do not accurately reflect the full name or purpose of NATO. For instance, North American Treaty Organization suggests a focus solely on North American countries, which does not encompass the broader international membership of NATO. New Alliance Treaty Organization and North Atlantic Trade Organization are also inaccurate, as they do not correspond to the official title or mission of the organization, which is distinctively related to military alliances and security rather than trade or a new alliance framework.