In 2024, photographers from across the Alliance took thousands of pictures documenting NATO's historic 75th anniversary year. They captured the magnitude of landmark political events like the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington D.C., the grit and cooperation of Allied troops conducting NATO exercises, and other moments of beauty, unity and humanity. We chose four of our favourite photos and put them to a vote on social media, asking the public to choose NATO's photo of the year for 2024. And the winner is...
NATO's photo of the year:
Turkish sailors and marines conduct an amphibious assault exercise during Neptune Strike, an enhanced vigilance activity in the central Mediterranean, Adriatic, North and Baltic Seas.
Runners-up:
Just minutes after Sweden's NATO membership became official, Swedish troops from the South Scanian Regiment lit bonfires in a spontaneous celebration during exercise Nordic Response 24 in Finnish Lapland.
Soldiers stop to gaze at the stunning northern lights in Norway's Finnmark region during exercise Nordic Response 24.
The Chasseurs Alpins - or "Alpine Hunters," the French Army's elite mountain infantry unit - reaches the 3,637-metre high peak of Albaron in the French Alps. After a climb on the Glacier des Évettes, and with crampons in place, the unit mastered a ridge race to the summit.
Check out NATO: a history in snapshots for more photos of Allies training, working and living together - one from every year of NATO's history, including the winner of our public vote for 2024.
