Major non-NATO ally
United States
NATO members
Major non-NATO allies
Former major non-NATO ally (Afghanistan) | |
| Formation | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sam Nunn |
| Type | Military alliance |
| Location | |
| Membership | 20 states:
Argentina |
A major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to countries that have strategic working relationships with the United States Armed Forces while not being members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
While MNNA status does not automatically constitute a mutual defense pact with the United States—as would be the case through NATO membership—it does confer a variety of military and financial advantages that are otherwise unobtainable by non-NATO countries. The designation also denotes strong diplomatic and economic ties and is considered a symbol of mutual friendship.[1][2]
There are currently 20 major non-NATO allies across four continents: 11 in Asia, four in Africa, three in South America, and two in Oceania.
- ^ Staff, Al Jazeera. "'Major non-NATO ally': What does Biden's new Kenya pledge mean?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ "Major Non-NATO Ally Status". United States Department of State. Retrieved September 10, 2025.