A missile that killed two people after landing in Poland, was probably not launched from Russia, President Joe Biden said late Tuesday.
Many had speculated that the missile was launched from Russia either missing a target in Ukraine, or actually targeting Poland.
Biden, who is in Bali, Indonesia, at the G20 meeting, said because of the missile’s trajectory, it is “unlikely” the weapon was launched from Russia.
“There is preliminary information that contests that,” Biden said. “I don’t want to say that until we completely investigate. But it is unlikely in the minds [sic] of its trajectory that it was fired from Russia.” He added: “But we will see, we will see.”
After the missile landed in Poland, talk about how the world should react began and the question of whether the attack triggered the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Article 5 was raised.
What is Article 5 and how does it work? Here is what we know about it.
What is Article 5?
Article 5 of the NATO charter says that if one member nation is attacked, it is considered an attack on all of the member nations.
It reads:
“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-defense recognized 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.”
The principle has been a strong deterrent to attacks since it was signed in 1949. In fact, the only time it has been invoked is after the attacks on 9/11.
The alliance calls Article 5 the “principle of collective defense at the very heart of NATO’s founding treaty.”
What does it say?
The charter says that member countries will assist the attacked country “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.”
Who decides how countries will respond?
Each country decides how it will respond. The charter does not demand a specific response.
Does any attack automatically invoke Article 5?
No, invoking Article 5 is not automatic. After an attack, representatives of the 30 member nations meet to discuss what comes next.
A vote would be needed to invoke Article 5.
Who are the 30 NATO members?
Here is a list of the members of NATO:
1. Belgium
2. Canada
3. Denmark
4. France
5. Iceland
6. Italy
7. Luxembourg
8. the Netherlands
9. Norway
10. Portugal
11. United Kingdom
12. United States
13. Greece
14. Turkey
15. Germany
16. Spain
17. Czech Republic
18. Hungary
19. Poland
20. Bulgaria
21. Estonia
22. Latvia
23. Lithuania
24. Romania
25. Slovakia
26. Slovenia
27. Albania
28. Croatia
29. Montenegro
30. North Macedonia
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