Can we talk about how funny it is that countries with an obvious treaty stating that they should provide assistance in the event of an attack are now trying to find loopholes, which calls into question ALL treaties with those countries? Perhaps we'll soon see the downfall of NATO if things continue like this.
Tell me you don't know a thing about NATO without telling me you don't know a thing about NATO.
The entire point of NATO is that there is meant to be a fear about the potential of the alliance striking back - without declaring that they all will. And that, it is geared towards specifically the NORTH ATLANTIC AREA. This being how it is, as defined by the North Atlantic Charter:
- on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on the Algerian Departments of France 2, on the territory of Turkey or on the Islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer;
- on the forces, vessels, or aircraft of any of the Parties, when in or over these territories or any other area in Europe in which occupation forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the date when the Treaty entered into force or the Mediterranean Sea or the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer.
This means that the Middle East is not covered. The closest thing to an attack against NATO would be in Cyprus with the British base being attacked. But, that would require us to count that either A: Cyprus is apart of Turkey or B: That it is in Europe, as it is not apart of the North Atlantic Area (it's in the Medi).
NATO is in no way obligated to do anything without that. And even if there was an attack, Article 5. Where Article 5 stipulates that no party is obligated to actually fight, or go to war with it being based upon what they consider to be necessary force:
"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."
Consequently, NATO is a psychological tool. And btw, Article 5 was only invoked to help the US following 9/11 and NATO members did support the US so
