The major players behind the formation of NATO in 1949 included the United States, Canada, and ten European nations—Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. The alliance was forged in response to the rising threat of the Soviet Union and the potential spread of communism in Europe. Key figures included U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson and British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, who both advocated for collective defense. NATO’s primary goal was mutual protection, and it established a framework for political and military collaboration among member states, fundamentally shaping post-war security strategies.