NATO - Who's In, Who's Out? Trivia Quiz

Answer: IN

The United States was a founding member of NATO in 1949. Following the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time - an attack on one is an attack on all. By January 1 2026, United States president Donald Trump had threatened numerous times to withdraw from NATO, boasting the United States had "the most powerful military in the world" but did not withdraw.

Answer: OUT

Russia, part of the former Soviet Union, is not a member of NATO. NATO was established in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and ten Western European countries as a military alliance to counter the growing influence of the Soviet Union in Europe after World War II.

Its founding treaty included Article 5, committing members to collective defense if one was attacked, effectively binding U.S. security to Europe. The Soviet Union responded by forming the Warsaw Pact in 1955.

Answer: IN

Since its inception, Canada has actively participated in NATO operations and missions. Throughout the Cold War, Canada stationed troops in Europe, particularly in Germany, and contributed to various military exercises and initiatives aimed at deterring Soviet threats.

The country was one of the largest military spenders in NATO during the 1950s and played a significant role in the Korean War.

Answer: IN

Finland officially joined NATO on 4 April 2023, following a formal accession process that began after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which significantly shifted public opinion in favor of NATO membership.

Answer: IN

Hungary officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 12 March 1999. Hungary was one of the seven founding countries of the Warsaw Pact (the Soviet Union's response to NATO in 1955). Alongside Poland and the Czech Republic, Hungary's membership represented the first wave of NATO enlargement after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, signalling a shift toward Western security structures and a commitment to collective defense, democratic governance, and international stability.

Answer: OUT

China is not a member of NATO. NATO's membership consists primarily of countries from North America and Europe, and China, being located in East Asia, does not fall within the geographic boundaries of the treaty.

Answer: OUT

Mexico cannot join NATO even if it wanted to. The North Atlantic Treaty itself limits new membership invitations to European states, creating a legal barrier that no amount of political will can overcome. Beyond that treaty restriction, Mexico's own constitution enshrines foreign policy principles that are fundamentally incompatible with a collective defense alliance, and its military is structured around domestic concerns rather than transatlantic security.

Answer: OUT

Ireland is not a member of NATO but maintains a close partnership through programs like the Partnership for Peace and the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme. Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality, which has prevented it from joining NATO as a full member.

Despite this, Ireland has cooperated with NATO since 1997, participating in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and contributing to the Kosovo Force (KFOR) since 1999.

Answer: IN

Norway joined NATO on 4 April 1949 as one of the twelve founding members, motivated by the experience of German occupation during World War II, which demonstrated that neutrality was no longer a viable security policy.

Answer: IN

Sweden, the most recent member of NATO (#32), has been a member of NATO since 7 March 2024. Before applying for NATO membership, Sweden had maintained a policy of neutrality in military affairs since the Napoleonic Wars, after which Sweden adopted a policy of "non-alignment in peace and neutrality in war".

The Russian invasion of Ukraine spurred a shift in public opinion, prompting Sweden to apply for NATO membership alongside Finland on 18 May 2022.

Answer: OUT

Georgia, a part of the former Soviet Union until 1991, is not part of NATO, as of January 1 2026, but it is a close partner and aspires to join the Alliance. Georgia has implemented reforms in line with NATO recommendations, including democratic and military improvements, and has contributed troops to NATO-led missions such as ISAF in Afghanistan and KFOR in Kosovo.

Answer: IN

Turkey officially joined NATO on February 18, 1952, alongside Greece, becoming the alliance's 14th member. The accession was motivated by Turkey's desire for security guarantees against potential Soviet aggression, particularly regarding control over the Straits of the Dardanelles. Turkey is a key NATO member strategically bridging Europe and the Middle East.

Answer: OUT

As of January 1 2026, Ukraine was not a member of NATO. Relations between NATO and Ukraine date back to the early 1990s and have since developed into one of the most substantial of NATO's partnerships. Since 2014, in the wake of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, cooperation has been intensified in critical areas. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO and Allies have provided unprecedented levels of support.

Answer: IN

Denmark was one of the 12 original signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949, reflecting its commitment to collective security against potential threats, particularly from the Soviet Union. Denmark's strategic location in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the Arctic, has made it a crucial player in NATO's defense strategy.

It serves as a buffer against eastern threats and allows monitoring of vital sea lanes.

Answer: OUT

Switzerland is not a member of NATO. The country maintains a long-standing policy of neutrality, which is a fundamental aspect of its foreign policy. Since 1996, Switzerland has participated in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, allowing for cooperative military efforts without committing to collective defense.

Answer: OUT

Austria is not a member of NATO and has never formally joined the alliance. Austria maintains a policy of permanent neutrality, enshrined in its constitution and the 1955 Austrian State Treaty, which prohibits joining military alliances, hosting foreign military bases, or participating in wars. As a result, Austria has never become a NATO member.

Answer: IN

Spain became the 16th member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 30 May 1982, following the end of Francisco Franco's dictatorship and a period of political transition in the country.

Answer: IN

Bulgaria was one of seven founding countries of the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Union's response to NATO in 1955. However Bulgaria left the Warsaw Pact primarily due to the democratic revolutions of 1989 in Eastern Europe and a desire for closer ties with Western nations.

The fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent political changes in Bulgaria, such as the ousting of leader Todor Zhivkov, marked a significant moment in Bulgaria's political evolution. As Eastern European countries sought to align with Western Europe, Bulgaria's membership in NATO in 2004 was a direct result of this transition.

Answer: OUT

Moldova is a neutral country. Article 11 of the Constitution of Moldova states: "The Republic of Moldova proclaims its permanent neutrality. The Republic of Moldova does not allow the deployment of armed forces of other states on its territory."

Answer: OUT

Belarus is not a member of NATO. In 2021, Allies suspended practical cooperation between NATO and Belarus, while maintaining dialogue, as necessary. NATO Allies have condemned Belarus for enabling Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and for its ongoing complicity in Russia's war of aggression.