Which organization was formed in 1949 to promote defense and cooperation among Western nations?

• A. APEC
• B. NATO
• C. OAS
• D. European Union

Answer: (B)

After World War II, Western nations sought a formal security framework to deter aggression and coordinate defense. The organization formed in 1949 to promote defense and cooperation among Western nations is NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It began with the Washington Treaty of 1949, signed by the United States, Canada, and several Western European countries. The core idea is collective defense: an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, triggering a unified military response. This structure helped align military forces, establish joint planning, and foster political and military consultation during the early Cold War to counter Soviet influence. Other groups fit different purposes and times: one focuses on economic collaboration in the Asia-Pacific and started in 1989; another is a regional organization of American states created in 1948 with broader political aims; and a European union formed through later treaties. NATO uniquely matches the description as a defense-focused alliance formed in that year.