Kamala Harris reaffirmed the US pledge to NATO’s Article 5. What is it? What does that mean for Ukraine? – USA TODAY

On a visit to Poland Thursday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed the United States commitment to defend members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization during a press conference in Warsaw, where she met with Polish President Andrezj Duda.

The United States has bolstered its military presence in Poland and other ally countries bordering Russia and Ukraine since the start of the war. It sent 5,000 troops to Poland as Russia built up its army on the Ukrainian border in February and deployed hundreds more to European countries earlier this week. The alliance has been on high alert since Russian President Vladimir Putin undertook his military campaign against Ukraine, preparing to repel potential Russian aggression against NATO states.

The United States commitment to Article 5is ironclad, Harris said. The United States is prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory.

Harris referenced the most integral provision in the alliances treaty, Article 5, which calls on member nations to come to thedefense of any member nation who is attacked.

Heres what to know about NATOs Article 5.

NATO is a transatlantic military alliance that was founded in 1949 by 12 North American and European nations. The post-World War II alliance formed as a bulwark to the Soviet Union, which had taken on satellite states in Eastern Europe and forming what was known as the Eastern Bloc.NATOs stated purpose is to maintain security for its members.

NATO expanded over the years to 30 member states. It has expanded eastward in Europe, with many former Soviet republics joining the alliance.

Putin has long held that NATO's eastward expansion is a threat to Russias security. In the run-up to his invasion of Ukraine, he demanded that Ukraine never join NATO.

Russia bombs maternity hospital: 'Horrifying.' Russia strike on Ukraine maternity hospital draws outrage as civilian war toll rises

NATO describes Article 5as a cornerstone of the Alliance."

It lays out the organization'sbasic promise of collective defense: An attack against one member state is an attack against all member states.

If such an armed attack occurs, each of them, Article 5 reads. 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 5calls for member states to takeaction it deems necessary, including the use of armed force. In other words, it authorizes military force, but doesnt mandate it.

But Harris pronouncement Thursday about defending every inch of NATO territory and the increased American troop deployments in NATO countries makeclear that the invocation of Article 5in response to a Russian attack would likely trigger American military action. This would mean that two world military superpowers would be drawn into direct war against each other in what wouldthe largest global conflict seen since the second World War.

Yes, NATO invoked Article 5 in 2001 in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.. It was the first and only time Article 5has been invoked. The alliance coordinated efforts to assist the United States in securing its airspace after the attacks and assisted U.S. President George W. Bushs subsequent global war on terror.

U.S. bans Russian oil: House votes to ban imports of Russian oil and energy products in retaliation for Ukraine invasion

Refugee crisis: Refugees flee Ukraine to neighboring countries following Russian military attack

Continue reading here:
Kamala Harris reaffirmed the US pledge to NATO's Article 5. What is it? What does that mean for Ukraine? - USA TODAY