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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded through the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty by the United States and several western European states; including the United Kingdom and France in April 1949. As the USSR diverted its attention away from military competition with the United States and towards Eastern Europe and Asia throughout the 90s, the United States boosted its involvement with other NATO member nations, deploying forces en masse to NATO states, reinforcing existing forces and forming the most powerful military alliance in the world. With some of the most advanced and lethal weaponry on the planet in its arsenal, combined with a large geographical spread across its many member nations, NATO has kept the Soviet Union in check - until now.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed in 1922 after the long and bloody Russian Civil War. After playing a vital role in defeating Hitler and Nazi Germany in World War II, the Soviets turned their attention to the United States, engaging in a Cold War that would almost see the communist regime pushed to economic ruin. After the assassination of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1988, the USSR adopted a new hard-line approach to the west, whilst securing itself financially through the signing of questionable arms deals and treaties with many rogue nations throughout the Middle East and South East Asia. Now once again a dominant force, the Soviets are ready to take the fight to NATO.
Australia
First colonized in 1776, the Commonwealth of Australia achieved nation status in 1901. Assisting Britain and America in World Wars I, II and the Vietnam War, Australia was traditionally a small player in military conflicts. This was, however, until November 2000. Australia’s future was brought into serious jeopardy when several South-East Asian states, backed by the USSR, launched a full scale offensive against Australia. The Australasian War, as it became known, lasted almost two years. Australia eventually prevailed, albeit with the help of NATO. The Aussie need for autonomous military strength became apparent, and in the aftermath of the war, Australian military spending and strength increased exponentially. A conflict as disastrous as the Australasian War could never hit them again - or so they thought.
