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A top NATO official has said the alliance will not invoke Article 5 after a missile believed to have been launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace.
Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Article 5 of the NATO Treaty is the central rule of NATO that says an attack on one member nation is considered an attack on the entire alliance. It can be invoked if a NATO country suffers an armed attack against its territory, military forces, or critical infrastructure. Because Turkey is a member of NATO, an attack on the country could technically trigger the clause. When Article 5 is activated, all NATO members are obligated to assist the attacked country, which can include military force, weapons, intelligence, or other support needed to restore security. The clause has only been invoked once in NATO’s history, after the September 11 attacks, when allies came to the defense of the United States following the terrorist attacks.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance is not considering triggering NATO’s collective defense clause after a missile incident involving Iran and Turkey. Speaking about the situation, Rutte told Reuters that “Nobody’s talking about Article 5,” making clear that the alliance does not currently view the incident as grounds to invoke the mutual defense provision. He also spoke about NATO’s defensive readiness instead, saying “The most important thing is that our adversaries have seen… that NATO is so strong and so vigilant, and even more vigilant, if possible.”
This comes after a ballistic missile that Turkish officials said was launched from Iran traveled through Iraqi and Syrian airspace toward Turkey. According to Turkey’s defense ministry, the missile was detected heading toward Turkish airspace and was intercepted by NATO air and missile defense systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean before it could reach its target. The missile was reportedly shot down by an interceptor launched from a US warship, and debris fell in Turkey’s Hatay province near the Syrian border, though officials said no injuries or damage were reported.
Iran, however, has denied responsibility for the launch. In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the country’s Armed Forces said they respect the “sovereignty of the neighboring and friendly country, Turkey, and deny any missile launch toward that country’s territory.” Iranian officials pushed back on reports from Turkey and Western officials that the missile originated from Iran.
Turkish officials have condemned the incident and warned that they will defend their territory. Turkey’s defense ministry said the missile was “engaged in a timely manner by NATO air and missile defense assets… and rendered inactive,” adding that Ankara “reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions.”
