When Turkey joined NATO on 18 February 1952, Winston Churchill and Harry Truman were still in office. NATO was a three year-old alliance, with just 12 members. And it would be another three years before the Warsaw Pact was formed. Over the next six decades, NATO would prove a vital instrument in the joint endeavour of the transatlantic Allies to promote freedom. And Turkey would prove itself as a key Ally- benefiting from the security provided by NATO, but also making major political and military contributions to the Alliance’s effectiveness. Strong solidarity among its member nations has characterised NATO from its very beginning. It has underpinned the Alliance’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances, which has been vital to its continuing success.