NATO at 75:

Safeguarding the UK and Allied Security in an Uncertain World

by Major Will Higgins

A year after NATO marked its 75th anniversary year Officer Commanding, Major William Higgins has provided an informative update on the role and achievements of 280 (NATO) Signal Squadron. A vital contribution to CIS in NATO made by the Corps.

As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) marked its 75th anniversary last year, its role in preserving the security of the United Kingdom and its fellow member states remains more vital than ever. Born in 1949 out of the ashes of World War II, NATO was founded on the principle of collective defence—an attack on one is an attack on all. For the UK, this transatlantic alliance has not only provided a strategic security guarantee but also positioned it at the heart of a powerful, multilateral defence community.

Over the past seven and a half decades, NATO has evolved from a Cold War bulwark into a dynamic alliance confronting a range of 21st-century threats. During the Cold War, it helped deter Soviet aggression in Europe. Post-1991, NATO adapted quickly, deploying forces in response to new global challenges. Notable campaigns include the Balkans interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo, which helped end brutal ethnic conflicts in the 1990s. Following the 9/11 attacks, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in its history, leading to its long-standing mission in Afghanistan under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), where UK troops played a central role, particularly in Helmand province.

More recently, NATO contributed to operations in Libya in 2011, enforcing a no-fly zone and protecting civilians during the country’s civil war. Beyond military engagements, NATO has recently expanded its scope to counter cyber threats, hybrid warfare, and disinformation—emerging domains where adversaries challenge democratic stability without conventional arms.

Yet, as NATO celebrates its legacy of peace and deterrence, it faces profound challenges. The resurgence of state-based threats, notably Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has reawakened the alliance’s core mission of territorial defence. Tensions in the Indo-Pacific and competition with authoritarian powers like China also loom large. Internally, NATO must maintain cohesion among 32 diverse member states, balance defence spending, and modernise its forces for digital-age warfare.

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