Difference Between UN and NATO

UN vs NATO

 

Although the UN and NATO both refer to international organizations, there is a difference between the two. UN refers to the United Nations. NATO is North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The main difference between these two organizations is that while UN is an organization that facilitates cooperation among the member states in various spheres, NATO is a military alliance. Through this article let us examine the differences between these two organizations.

What is UN?

UN is United Nations Organizations (UNO). UN is an international organization that aims at facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, human rights, social progress and the accomplishment of world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II as a replacement for the League of Nations.

The purpose of the formation of UN was to stop wars between countries and to prepare the ground for talks. UN has its headquarters in New York. The official languages accepted by the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. There are 192 member states in the UN.

The five main bodies on which the UN system works are the UN Secretariat under UN Secretary General, the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The sixth main body, the Trusteeship Council, is not functional currently. One of the well-known subsidiary organs is the Human Rights Council.

There are several programs and funds functional under the UN system. Some of the popular humanitarian funds are the UNICEF, UNHCR, UNDP and the WFP. Also there are a number of specialized agencies associated with UN such as FAO, IMF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO, UNIDO, WHO and World Bank group.

The UN and its agencies are protected by the laws of the countries where they operate. This enables the safeguarding of the policies of the UN concerning the host and member countries or states.

What is NATO?

NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance that has its substratum on the North Atlantic Treaty signed on 4 April 1949. The Headquarters of NATO are in Brussels, Belgium. The NATO has its membership allotted to 28 states. The official languages accepted by NATO are English and French.

The NATO council is based on the reports submitted by five committees, namely, Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security, Defense and Security Committee, Economics and Security Committee, Political Committee and Science and Technology Committee. Some of the agencies that come under NATO include Central Europe Pipeline System and NATO Pipeline System.

What is the Difference Between UN and NATO?

Definitions of UN and NATO:

UN: UN is United Nations Organizations (UNO).

NATO: NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Characteristics of UN and NATO:

Nature of the organization:

UN: UN is an organization that facilitates cooperation among the member states in various spheres.

NATO: NATO is a military alliance.

Establishment:

UN: The UN was founded in 1945.

NATO: NATO was founded in 1949.

Headquarters:

UN: UN has its headquarters in New York.

NATO: The Headquarters of NATO are in Brussels, Belgium.

Number of Member States:

UN: There are 192 member states in the UN.

NATO: The NATO has its membership allotted to 28 states.

Official Languages:

UN: The official languages accepted by the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

NATO: The official languages accepted by NATO are English and French.

 

Image Courtesy:

1. “UN emblem blue” by Joowwww – Own workPhoto for reference use on Military aircraft insignia page. [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons

2. “Flag of NATO” by Vectorized by Mysid and uploaded to Flag of NATO.svgCode cleaned up by Artem Karimov. – www.nato.int. [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons