An international coalition of European countries invoked a section of NATO’s founding agreement.
This section compels allies to consult any time “the sovereignty of any of the members” is threatened. This comes in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a statement released today.
Borders
Per the Washington Examiner, Poland and the Baltic republics—Estonia, Latvia, as well as Lithuania—are utilizing that provision to encourage greater armament in the NATO member states that are closest to the battle zone.
The use of that treaty provision underlines their concern the Russian offensive may go beyond the borders of Ukraine, which is not a part of NATO, and into one of the countries that are members of the transatlantic union.
NATO allies must invoke article 4 immediately and launch defense plans.
— Marko Mihkelson (@markomihkelson) February 24, 2022
An anonymous European diplomat who spoke to the Washington Examiner on the condition of anonymity said of Putin, “Who can be sure what’s going on inside his head?”
“To denuclearize a neighboring country, he launched an international conflict in the middle of Europe. Are we certain that’s all there is to it?”
“Investment in deterrence is always preferable to fund fighting a war once it has begun.”
Ukraine, which is currently embroiled in a military conflict, shares its border with four NATO member states.
Despite the fact the Baltic states do not share a border with Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia do share a land border with Belarus, which harbors Russian military personnel. Latvia and Estonia also have a border with Russia.
As well as sharing a border with Kaliningrad, a part of Russian sovereign land in the Baltic Sea that is not connected to the rest of Russia by land, Lithuania and Poland also have a border with Latvia.
Article 4
According to the European source, “when there is a war on NATO’s border, all you have to do is discourage it; you have to reinforce deterrence.”
It was precisely through these actions that NATO was able to avoid military conflict throughout the Cold War.
Every time there was an escalation, you reacted. Make certain you do not display any signs of deterioration at any time.”
Eastern European members of NATO are invoking Article 4, which means urgent consultations on military plans for the alliance.
— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) February 24, 2022
Article 4 of the NATO agreement states, “the sides will consult with each other when, in the viewpoint of any of them, the territorial sovereignty, political independence, or safety of any of the parties is affected.”
This means whenever the sovereign rights, independence, or safety of any parties are challenged, the parties will discuss it together.
Article 5 of the Treaty of Versailles mandates allies to consider an assault on one an assault on all if the same force attacks them. In this case, Ukraine is not entitled to protection.
The Article 4 consultations, according to an Eastern European official who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, will focus on “reassurance, deterrence, [and] demonstrating NATO’s willingness to protect every inch of allied territory,” the official added.
