New
New
Year 10

What is the UK’s role in NATO?

I can explain the role of NATO and how the UK plays a part in this international organisation.

New
New
Year 10

What is the UK’s role in NATO?

I can explain the role of NATO and how the UK plays a part in this international organisation.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. NATO was created in 1949 in response to global tensions and has grown into a key force in international security.
  2. Whilst it is a military organisation, it has wider aims such as international humanitarian law.
  3. NATO's structure allows Member States to make joint political and military decisions through consensus.
  4. The UK is a key NATO member, contributing leadership, military support and financial commitment to collective defence.

Keywords

  • Alliance - an agreement or partnership between different countries; it usually involves mutual defence

  • NATO - an international military defence organisation comprising of different countries who work together to try to settle disputes amongst nations

  • Collective defence - the idea that countries agree to defend each other if any one of them is attacked; this is a key principle of NATO

Common misconception

NATO is just an alliance between countries.

NATO is more than just an alliance. It is an international organisation with a command structure, a shared budget, and agreed aims. Like the UN, it sets goals and carries out missions agreed by its Member States.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is the UK’s role in NATO?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils may focus on NATO as purely military. Encourage them to see it as a political organisation too, with decision-making structures, shared aims and international cooperation beyond just defence.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to its definition.
Correct Answer:WTO,an international organisation; deals with the global rules of trade

an international organisation; deals with the global rules of trade

Correct Answer:UN,international organisation; it promotes peace, security & cooperation

international organisation; it promotes peace, security & cooperation

Correct Answer:empire,a collection of territories or nations governed by a single power

a collection of territories or nations governed by a single power

Q2.
Which document created by the UN set out the entitlements that humans have?
Correct answer: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
UN Charter
European Convention on Human Rights
Human Rights Act
Q3.
What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
a military alliance
a trade organisation
Correct answer: a voluntary association of independent countries
part of the United Nations
Q4.
What is the main purpose of international humanitarian law?
to regulate trade
to establish refugee quotas
Correct answer: to protect those not taking part in conflict
to prevent illegal migration
Q5.
Which agreement is most associated with international humanitarian law?
Paris Agreement
Kyoto Protocol
Rome Statute
Correct answer: Geneva Convention
Q6.
Where is the International Criminal Court (ICC) based?
Correct Answer: The Hague, Netherlands, Hague

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these was a founding member of NATO?
Correct answer: USA
Russia
Poland
Albania
Turkey
Q2.
What term means that "an attack on one is an attack on all"?
Correct Answer: collective defence
Q3.
What does the acronym NATO stand for?
North Arctic Treaty Organisation
North Atlantic Treaty Operation
Correct answer: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Northern Artillery Territorial Operations
Q4.
Which body has the overall decision-making power in NATO?
Correct answer: North Atlantic Council (NAC)
Nuclear Planning Group (NPG)
Military Committee (MC)
Security Council (SC)
Q5.
Which of the following best describes NATO?
A loose agreement between countries to trade more easily.
A military alliance with no formal structure or responsibilities.
Correct answer: An international organisation with shared aims and defence plans.
A European army with its own President and councils.
Q6.
Match the sentence starter to its end.
Correct Answer:An alliance is,an agreement between countries; it usually involves mutual defence.

an agreement between countries; it usually involves mutual defence.

Correct Answer:Collective defence is,enshrined in Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

enshrined in Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

Correct Answer:NATO has expanded beyond its original 12,members, it now has 32 Member States.

members, it now has 32 Member States.