| Clue | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Countries belonging to an alliance founded in 1949 | ||
| Countries in an international alliance founded in 1949 | USA Today | 07 Jul 2022 |
| What 28 states are | New York Times | 28 May 2016 |
| What 28 states are | ||
| Belgium, Canada, Lithuania, and 25 other countries |