Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, a non-NATO country, has been unlawful, despicable, and totally unwarranted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former actor and comedian before running for office, has been nothing short of inspiring, brave, and patriotic, as have the people of Ukraine.
At this point in time, given the Russian military’s lackluster and uncoordinated military assault across the country, and the stiff resistance by the Ukrainian military and civilian population, it’s an open question of whether Russia will succeed in its military objective.
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In deciding whether to order the armed forces of the United States would react if Putin really attacked a NATO country, there are two things to ponder on: (1) Is it in the national security interests of the United States to do so, and (2) Do the actions of the party (in this case, Russia) amount to an ‘armed attack’ as defined by Article 51 of the U.N. charter?
Meanwhile, article 5 permits the United States to respond in a way that satisfies its legal obligations short of sending in the armed forces of the United States to fight, such as providing military equipment or other aid.
The text of Article 5 of the treaty is:
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.
However, from a policy perspective, it has been important to convey the impression that we would respond to an armed attack on a NATO ally with military force.
