Initiate nuclear attack taking out alliance (4)

I believe the answer is:

nato

'alliance' is the definition.
(I know that NATO is a type of global organization)

'initiate nuclear attack taking out' is the wordplay.
'initiate' says to take the initial letters (I've seen 'initiated' mean this).
The first letters of 'nuclear attack taking out' is 'NATO'.

(Other definitions for nato that I've seen before include "N. Atlantic alliance" , "Military alliance, formed 1949" , "International organisation for collective security" , "Security agreement" , "Military bloc" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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