[Salon] Text of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949

[Chas Freeman <cwfresidence@gmail.com>]

With all the talk about Article 5 at present, it may be useful to reflect on its text and the procedures by which it is to be implemented.

Article 5

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 and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security .

Article 5 is subject to the opening provision of Article 11, which makes it clear that the authorization of war is not automatic but subject to the provisions of each member nation's constitution.

Article 11

This Treaty shall be ratified and its provisions carried out by the Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes....