Article 5: How NATO Defense Obligations Might Be Triggered

WASHINGTON-

A deadly explosion occurred on Tuesday in the territory of NATO member Poland near its border with Ukraine, and the United States and its allies said they were investigating unconfirmed reports according to which the explosion was allegedly caused by stray Russian missiles.

The explosion, which firefighters said killed two people, raised fears that Russia’s war in Ukraine could become a wider conflict. The Russian Defense Ministry has denied any involvement.

If it is determined that Moscow is to blame for the explosion, it could trigger NATO’s principle of collective defense known as Article 5, in which an attack on one of the alliance members western is seen as an attack on all, triggering deliberations on a potential military response.

Here is an explanation of article 5:

WHAT IS ARTICLE 5?

Article 5 is the cornerstone of the founding treaty of NATO, which was created in 1949 with the United States military as a powerful pillar essentially to counter the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc satellites during the Cold War. .

The charter states that “the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all”.

« They agree that, if such an armed attack should occur, each of them, in the exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking immediately, individually and in concert with the other Parties, any action it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic region », indicates he.

HOW CAN THE UKRAINE WAR START IT?

As Ukraine is not part of NATO, Russia’s invasion in February did not trigger Article 5, although the United States and other member states rushed to provide military assistance and diplomatic in Kyiv.

However, experts have long warned of the possibility of a spillover into neighboring countries on NATO’s eastern flank that could force the alliance to respond militarily.

Such action by Russia, whether intentional or accidental, raised the risk of widening the war by drawing other countries directly into the conflict.

IS THE INVOCATION OF ARTICLE 5 AUTOMATIC?

No. Following an attack on one member state, the others come together to determine if they agree to consider it an Article 5 situation.

There is no time limit on how long these consultations last, and experts say the language is flexible enough to allow each member to decide how far to go to respond to an armed attack on another.

HAS ARTICLE 5 BEEN INVOKED BEFORE?

Yes. Article 5 has been activated once before – on behalf of the United States, in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

WHAT DID BIDEN SAY ABOUT ARTICLE 5 PLEDGES?

While insisting that the United States has no interest in going to war with Russia, President Joe Biden declared from the start of the Moscow invasion that Washington would honor its Article 5 commitments to defend NATO partners.

« America is fully prepared with our NATO allies to defend every square inch of NATO territory. Every square inch, » Biden said at the White House in September.

He had earlier said there was « no doubt » his administration would abide by Article 5.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; editing by Kieran Murray and Grant McCool)