6 youngest NATO countries as of 2025
NATO is one of the most important security partnerships in modern history. The group standa as more than just a military alliance; it is a collective security guarantee in an unstable global context.
Business Insider Africa presents the youngest NATO countries.
This list is courtesy of Global Firepower.
Sweden is the latest country to join the 76-year-old coalition.
Article 5, a collective self-defense clause, is important to the alliance because it specifies that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
This strong commitment deters aggression and reassures weaker nations under NATO's cover.
In a period of rising geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, terrorism, and assertive military actions by powers like as Russia and China, NATO offers its members strategic depth.
Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, albeit targeting a non-NATO state, demonstrated to member nations how important NATO's security structure is.
The eastern flank countries, including Poland, the Baltic States, and Romania, feel more confident knowing they are not alone in the issue.
NATO also facilitates joint military training, intelligence sharing, and rapid response by coordinating defense plans.
For smaller governments with limited defense expenditures, NATO membership provides access to advanced capabilities, technology, and logistics that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive.
Beyond defense, NATO aims to promote unity among democratic states. It represents a shared commitment to stability, the rule of law, and peace.
As the world evolves, NATO's ability to adapt by addressing hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, and space security shows its continued relevance.
For its members, NATO represents solidarity, protection, and influence in global security issues. Its significance today is not only military, but also political: guaranteeing that democratic states stand together in the face of common difficulties.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed on April 4, 1949, in the aftermath of World War II.
Its founding was a watershed moment in international relations, establishing a military alliance dedicated to safeguarding peace, stability, and collective security in a rapidly divided world.
With that said, here's a list of the oldest NATO countries according to data from Global Firepower.
6 youngest NATO countries as of 2025
Rank Country Date joined Years as a member state
1. Sweden March 7, 2024 1
2. Finland April, 4, 2023 2
3. North Macedonia March, 27, 2020 5
4. Montenegro June, 5, 2017 8
5. Albania April, 1, 2009 16
6. Croatia April, 1, 2009 16
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Beijing, China, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Japanese civil group said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times on Tuesday that Japanese junior high school history textbooks contain inaccurate descriptions regarding the causes of World War II. The group warned that Japan's current lack of responsibility in addressing historical issues could make it difficult for Japanese young people to understand the true history of the war and to critically examine the essence of contemporary social issues. Since April, junior high schools across Japan started to use new textbooks. The changes to the way World War II is described have sparked concern and unease among the Children and Textbooks Japan Network 21, a non-governmental organization formed in 1998 that has long been focusing on issues surrounding textbook approval and the presentation of war history in Japan. 'We reviewed junior high school history textbooks published by Tokyo Shoseki, Kyoiku Shuppan, Teikoku-Shoin, Yamakawa Shuppansha, Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan, and Manabisha. Among them, only Manabisha's version explicitly writes that 'Japan started the war,' while most textbooks used descriptions like 'the war began,'' Yoko Kojiya, secretary-general of the organization, told the Global Times on Tuesday via email, noting this expression makes it difficult for students to understand and contemplate why Japan started the war and how it proceeded with colonial rule. Kojiya pointed out particularly that the descriptions in textbooks about Japan's invasion of China are not sufficiently detailed. Also, the content about why Japan went to war with the US and the UK in 1941 is problematic because it is described as 'Japan had to go to war due to being isolated by the ABCD [America, Britain, China and Dutch] encirclement.' Kojiya said to better teach history and allow Japanese students to grasp war history more fully and impartially, it's vital to enable discussions on why Japan started the wars and how Japanese people should prevent such conflicts from happening in the future. 'Therefore, it is necessary to provide a large amount of historical material to help understand the nature of war.' Kojiya also highlighted the changes concerning the 'Nanjing Massacre' and 'comfort women,' slamming Japanese government's textbook screening policy as political interference in educational content. 'The term 'Nanjing Massacre' is used in fewer textbooks nowadays, with many referring to it as the 'Nanjing Incident' instead. And the number of people massacred is accompanied by caveats such as 'there are various opinions' or that the number 'is being researched,'' Kojiya said. The Nanjing Massacre is one of the darkest chapters of World War II. The atrocities began on December 13, 1937, when Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital Nanjing, unleashing six weeks of devastation that claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000 civilians and unarmed soldiers, according to Xinhua. Regarding 'comfort women,' Kojiya said that the removal of the term 'accompanying the military' in the textbooks aims to hide the fact that these women were forced into sexual servitude by the Japanese military. 'The National History Textbook published by ReiwaShoseki even writes 'There is no evidence of Japanese troops forcibly taking away women.' I consider it a serious problem that this passed the government screening without any objections,' Kojiya said. The 'comfort women' system was a military sexual slavery regime enforced by the Japanese government and its military during World War II. It resulted in at least 400,000 innocent women worldwide being forced into sexual slavery. Nearly half of them were Chinese, according to Xinhua. According to Xinhua, in 2021, the Japanese government decided through a cabinet meeting to deem expressions such as 'comfort women accompanying the military' as 'inappropriate textbook terminology.' Japan's education authority subsequently requested modifications to related teaching materials, including those already distributed. Kojiya told the Global Times that it is a serious problem that the descriptions in Japanese history textbooks can be greatly influenced by the policies of the government at any given time. 'The current textbook screening in Japan is not focusing on pointing out academic errors, but rather on whether the descriptions align with government inclinations,' said Kojiya. This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On May 31, the organization held a seminar in Tokyo to discuss the proper role of Japanese history education eight decades after the war. According to the seminar material Kojiya sent to the Global Times, during the seminar, Hisao Ishiyama, former chairman of the History Educationalist Conference of Japan, said that since 2014, forces that glorify war and distort history started to utilize the deteriorated textbook system and government power to launch a government-wide effort to distort the entire population's understanding of history. In response to this challenge, Kojiya told the Global Times that she is especially worried about the rise of conservative forces, such as the 'Tsukurukai,' which attack reflection on the war and the pacifism of the constitution, advocate for a constitutional amendment, and push forward policies aimed at expanding military capabilities to build Japan into a country that can wage war. 'Thus, it is crucial to squarely face the historical facts of aggression on the basis of the reflection that led to the creation of the Japanese Constitution, and to gather the strength of people who wish to stop policies that will make Japan a 'war state',' Kojiya said. This story first appeared in Global Times: Company: Global TimesContact Person: Anna Li Email: [email protected] Website: City: Beijing Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
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Not just because the business concerned is American, but due to the fact its founder is Jared Kushner, best-known as Donald Trump's son-in-law. And because the planned development is due to be called Trump Tower Belgrade. While these has now been a major twist in the tale that puts the scheme in some doubt, the Serbian government's decision to strike the deal wasn't too surprising. Before he became US president in 2016, Donald Trump himself expressed interest in building a hotel on the site. The move also fits a government pattern - as alleged by the Serbian opposition - of allowing foreign investors to profit from public property. They cite, as a prime example, the Belgrade Waterfront residential and retail project, constructed by Emirati developers on land owned by Serbia's railways. Where there used to be rusting rolling stock and derelict sidings, there is now a swish shopping centre, smart restaurants and the oddly bulbous, 42-storey Belgrade Tower. It is not to everyone's taste. 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Mr Peirson is concerned that the nature of the Ministry of Defence building deal may irk businesses which have already committed to Serbia. "If I'm an investor already putting tens or hundreds of millions into the country, I would feel sad that I hadn't been given the chance," he says. Both Affinity Global and the Serbian government did not respond to requests for comments about how the deal over the site was agreed, and whether or not there was an open tendering process. Ros Atkins on... Trump's deals in the Gulf Then there is the question of whether a commercial development should be taking place at all. The site, even in its current state, remains architecturally and historically significant. The buildings were originally constructed to welcome visitors to the capital of Tito's Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Architect Nikola Dobrovic created two structures on either side of Nemanjina Street which, viewed together, took the form of a gate. 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Prosecutors said Goran Vasic, the acting director of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, had admitted to fabricating an expert opinion which had been used to justify the change of status. He faces charges of abuse of office and forgery of official documents. This admission has been seized on by those opposed to the project as evidence Kushner got preferential treatment. The Serbian government denies this. Where this leaves the Affinity Global project – Trump International Hotel and all – is not entirely clear. Repeated efforts to arrange an interview with the company have been unsuccessful, though it did issue a statement insisting that Mr Vasic had "no connection to our firm", adding that it would "review this matter and determine next steps". Vucic, meanwhile, denies there is any problem with the development. During a meeting of European leaders in Tirana, he said "there was not any kind of forgery". Still, it seems the Defence Ministry's shattered visage will remain unchanged for a while at least. And thanks to the Trump connection, it will offer even more of a talking point for first-time visitors to Belgrade. Winemakers finding Trump's tariffs hard to swallow Did Trump really strike Gulf deals worth $2tn? The world's most dangerous country for trade unionists Is the US finally on track to build a high-speed rail network?
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Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., opened the hearing with questions about the Ukraine War, including who is the aggressor and preferred outcomes. Hegseth said Russia is the aggressor and China would prefer to keep the conflict going as long as possible to distract from its moves in the Indo-Pacific region. Europe needs to do more to defend its territory against Russian aggression, Hegseth said, and the United States must remain strategic in its handling of the war while addressing matters in the Indo-Pacific region. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., cited ongoing Russian aggression against civilian targets in Ukraine as evidence that Russia has no intention of ending the war there. The 2026 budget request eliminates aid to Ukraine, while senators are working to impose more sanctions on Russia, Coons said. "What message do you think it sends" when Russia "attacks civilian centers in Ukraine and the United States does not send additional air defense and interceptors to Ukraine?" Coons asked. Hegseth said arms are still flowing to Ukraine, but other NATO allies are not doing enough to end the war. "You're not a real coalition, you're not a real defense alliance, unless you have real defense capability and real armies that can bring those to bear," Hegseth said. "That's a reality that Europe is waking up to quickly," he added, "and we're glad." Coons said the United States should not negotiate a cease-fire in Ukraine "at any cost" and instead should continue supporting Ukraine to achieve an enduring peace. "Putin will only stop when we stop him," Coons said. "The best way to stop him is through a stronger NATO." Chinese military threats and Hegseth's DOD leadership Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said China has more than 400 warships and is rapidly expanding its fleet versus 293 ships for the United States. She asked why the Defense Department only seeks funding to build two submarines and an ocean surveillance ship, plus some destroyers. Hegseth said the 2026 budget request reflects a 13% increase for investing in national defense over the current fiscal year. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., then questioned Hegseth's leadership. "I am repeatedly hearing that your policy and personnel changes at the Pentagon are only undermining [and] not strengthening our military's preparedness to protect our country," Murray said. She accused Hegseth of using the military to police areas in the United States, including sending the National Guard and Marines to California to use against "peaceful protesters." Murray then asked Hegseth if the Defense Department would continue to fire shipbuilders, which he denied it has done. "We are investing historically in our shipbuilding defense industrial base and workforce and ships in this budget," Hegseth said. Murray said the Navy is firing shipbuilder staff in the state of Washington and accused it of asking welders if they ever donated to the Democratic Party. Hegseth said no welders are subject to litmus tests to work on naval projects and denied that political questions are asked. Iranian, Russian, Chinese and North Korean coalition Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked Hegseth and Caine if the world is underestimating Iran's intent to "kill all the Jews," including using a nuclear weapon against Israel if Iran had one. Caine said Iran would use one to pressure Israel but doesn't know if Iran would use it to "wipe out Israel." Hegseth said a radical cleric in Iran would use one to wipe out Israel. "They're going to use a nuclear weapon if they get it," Graham said. He also asked if China intends to "take Taiwan by force if necessary." Hegseth said the DOD doesn't know that China has made the decision to do so. Caine suggested China might use military force against Taiwan, and the United States needs to prepare for it. Coons said China, Russia, North Korea and Iran are aligned and pose the greatest threat to world peace since the Cold War. He cited Ukraine as an example of the future of warfare, but said the Department of Defense is "internally divided" and operating on a continuing resolution for the first time. The current state within the Defense Department "cannot continue," Coons added. Next-generation fighter and collaborative drones are planned The Defense Department also wants to spend $4 billion during the 2026 fiscal year to develop the F-47 fighter and "collaborative combat" drone aircraft, according to DefenseScoop. The $4 billion request is just part of the 2026 budget request, but the amount of the entire proposed budget has not been released. The Air Force wants to spend $3.5 billion on the F-47 fighter project, which would give it a fighter capable of exceeding Mach 2 with a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles. The current F-22 and F-35A fighter jets have top speeds of greater than Mach 2 and Mach 1.6 and ranges of 590 and 670 nautical miles, respectively. The Air Force wants to buy up to 185 F-47 fighters during the program's duration. The Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program would promote the development of next-generation drone aircraft that are capable of flying with the manned F-47 and other next-generation fighters.
