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Article Five and 9/11

Broadcast Date: Sept. 13, 2001

Critics have long said that NATO is but a security collective based more on theory than action. But on Sept. 11, 2001, the organization is called to action after the United States comes under a series of unexpected, deadly attacks on its own territory. For the first time in its history, NATO members invoke Article Five and confirm that an attack on one member is an attack on all, as heard in this CBC Television report.

Article Five and 9/11

• On Sept. 11, 2001, NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson convened a special meeting in which he emphasized the "need for the international community and the members of the alliance to unite their forces in fighting the scourge of terrorism." The following day, NATO presented a united front and invoked Article Five. In October 2001, five NATO aircraft and 200 personnel were sent to the United States to patrol the airspace above North America.

• The editorial board at the Winnipeg Free Press commented on the invocation of Article Five as a monumental change in governing world policy. "Sovereignty should not exist at the apparent whim of alliances powerful enough to bully little or vexatious nations if they so choose. But neither should sovereignty be used as a cloak behind which evil can grow. (continued...)

(...continued) In the absence of collective security, the Second World War occurred. In the presence of collective security, the third world war has been prevented. In the absence of collective security, terrorism has flourished. In the presence of collective security, the democracies may find a way to stop it." — Sept. 13, 2001.

• On Sept. 14, 2001, former adversaries Russia and NATO issued the following joint statement: "NATO and Russia call on the entire international community to unite in the struggle against terrorism." NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson said that this declaration was "the foundation of a new co-operation, and indeed a new coalition, against these terrible attacks that may be visited on any capital city on any day." — Globe and Mail, Sept. 14, 2001

• Before the Sept. 11 attacks, Russia had most recently criticized NATO's involvement in the Kosovo crisis. NATO had also condemned Russia's political handling of Chechnya.
• In November 2002, NATO leaders agreed to establish a rapid response unit to react to terrorist threats, natural or man-made disasters. In October 2004, NATO revealed its Response Force unit made up of elite land, sea and air troops.

• Article Five states: 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.

Article Five and 9/11

Medium: Television

Program: The National

Broadcast Date: Sept. 13, 2001

Guest(s): Jonathan Eyal

Host: Peter Mansbridge
Reporter: Don Murray

Duration: 3:12

Last updated:
Dec. 14, 2004