Photostory: partners in action

Switzerland - almost a byword for neutrality - sent members of its Swiss company to assist in peace operations in Kosovo in 1999. Their mission there has just been extended to 2014 - making 15 years of having over 200 personnel in the area.

Austrian troops have played a major partner role in Kosovo - including in the volatile Mitrovica area in the north.

New Zealand's armed forces are pictured here performing the traditional Maori Haka dance. They have helped in development, running a Provincial Reconstruction Team and also lost 10 of their own during their work in Afghanistan.
© Reuters

Finland sends troops to crisis management and training operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Many of the 195 Finnish soldiers serving in Afghanistan are deployed to the Swedish-led Mazar-i-Sharif Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Following a doubling of its contingent in 2012, Georgia is currently the largest partner contributor to NATO's ISAF in Afghanistan. It has over 1,600 troops serving in Afghanistan, many in the challenging Helmand Province. During their time there, Georgian forces lost 18 soldiers. © ISAF

The Swedish Grippen aircraft were ready, willing and very able during NATO's Operation Unified Protector in Libya. The fact that Sweden had been taking part in NATO operations since the 1990s meant that its forces were able easily to integrate into the wider operation.

Russia is arguably NATO's largest partner - and collaborates on a wide variety of issues. These range from counter-narcotics training to joint exercises, and from transit routes to cooperative air space initiatives.

NATO's Chicago Summit really showed how key partners have become. There were more partner nations at the event than NATO members, highlighted in this photo showing a range from Australia to Austrian leaders.

Ukraine's relations with NATO are conducted through the NATO Ukraine Commission, created by the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership.