Which of the following best explains why the North Atlantic Treaty was signed by its participating countries?

Correct Answer: The threat from opposing states was sufficient enough to join in alliance for the sake of protection.
NATO was founded to provide defense against the Soviet Union for Western nations, which best aligns with (B). Eliminate because many of the participating nations in NATO had largely enfranchised populations to begin with. Eliminate (C) because NATO, according to the document, is a defensive alliance. Eliminate (D) because the Soviet Union acquired atomic weapons in 1949, breaking the U.S. monopoly.