Editing North Atlantic Treaty (section)

===Article 4===
Article 4 is generally considered the starting point for major NATO operations, and therefore is intended for either emergencies or situations of urgency. It officially calls for consultation over military matters when "the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_17481.htm|title=Report of the Committee of Three on Non-Military Cooperation in NATO|website=NATO.int|date=13 December 1956|access-date=25 February 2022|quote=Special attention must be paid, as explicitly recognised in Article 4 of the Treaty, to matters of urgent and immediate importance to the members of NATO, and to 'emergency' situations where it may be necessary to consult closely on national lines of conduct affecting the interests of members of NATO as a whole. There is a continuing need, however, for effective consultation at an early stage on current problems, in order that national policies may be developed and action taken on the basis of a full awareness of the attitudes and interests of all the members of NATO. While all members of NATO have a responsibility to consult with their partners on appropriate matters, a large share of responsibility for such consultation necessarily rests on the more powerful members of the Community.|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225183356/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_17481.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon its invocation, the issue is discussed in the [[North Atlantic Council]], and can formally lead into a joint decision or action (logistic, military, or otherwise) on behalf of the Alliance.<ref name=dt26/>

====Invocations====

It has been officially invoked seven times since the alliance's creation.<ref name=art4>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_49187.htm|title=The consultation process and Article 4|website=NATO.int|date=24 February 2022|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402192427/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_49187.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|+ Article 4 invocations
|-
! Nations
! Date
! Reason
! Outcome
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| February 2003
| [[Iraq War]].<ref name=art4 /><ref>{{cite speech|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2003/s030210a.htm|title=Statement by NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, on measures in relation to a possible threat to Turkey|date=10 February 2003|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528021753/https://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2003/s030210a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Operation Display Deterrence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2003/p03-040e.htm|title=Conclusion of Operation Display Deterrence and Article 4 security consultations|date=16 April 2003|access-date=26 February 2022|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030183409/https://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2003/p03-040e.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| June 2012
| [[2012 Turkish F-4 Phantom shootdown|The shooting down of a Turkish military jet by Syria]].<ref name=art4 />
| rowspan="2" | [[Operation Active Fence]].<ref name="natoPatriot">{{cite web |date=2012-12-05 |title=NATO Foreign Ministers' statement on Patriot deployment to Turkey |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_92476.htm?selectedLocale=en |access-date=27 February 2022 |quote=As the North Atlantic Council made clear on June 26 and October 3, we stand with Turkey in the spirit of strong solidarity. We, the NATO foreign ministers, declare our determination to deter threats to and defend Turkey. In response to Turkey's request, NATO has decided to augment Turkey's air defence capabilities in order to defend the population and territory of Turkey and contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along the Alliance's border. |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227184846/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_92476.htm?selectedLocale=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| October 2012
| [[Syrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian civil war#The 2 October 2012 incident and afterward|Syrian forces shelling Turkish cities.]]<ref name=art4 />
|-
| {{flag|Latvia}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.turkishpress.com/news/393234/|title=UNSC, EU, NATO to hold urgent meetings over Ukraine|date=1 March 2014|access-date=6 March 2014|quote=Meanwhile, Lithuania and Latvia called upon the North Atlantic Council, the decision-making body of NATO, to hold an extraordinary session on Ukraine, citing security concerns.|archive-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306024657/http://www.turkishpress.com/news/393234|url-status=live}}, Turkishpress.com</ref><br />
{{flag|Lithuania}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/03/russias-seizure-of-crimea-is-making-former-soviet-states-nervous/284156/|title=Russia's Seizure of Crimea Is Making Former Soviet States Nervous|work=[[The Atlantic]]|last=Ford|first=Matt|date=1 March 2014|access-date=4 March 2014|quote=[[Linas Antanas Linkevičius|Linas Linkevicius]], Lithuania's foreign minister, responded on Saturday by invoking Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty ... for only the fourth time in the alliance's history.|archive-date=4 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304073548/http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/03/russias-seizure-of-crimea-is-making-former-soviet-states-nervous/284156/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
{{flag|Poland}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/world/europe/top-russians-face-sanctions-by-us-for-crimea-crisis.html?hp&_r=0|title=Top Russians Face Sanctions by U.S. for Crimea Crisis|last=Baker|first=Peter|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 March 2014|access-date=4 March 2014|quote=NATO called its second emergency meeting on Ukraine in response to a request from Poland under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty relating to threats to a member state's security and independence.|archive-date=24 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724051441/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/world/europe/top-russians-face-sanctions-by-us-for-crimea-crisis.html?hp&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>
| March 2014
| In response to the [[annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]].
| Deployment of [[littoral warfare|littoral]], naval, and air forces in the Black Sea by Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_160789.htm|title=Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission|date=26 November 2018|access-date=27 February 2022|quote=NATO has increased its presence in the Black Sea region on land, but also with air policing over the Black Sea region, including the Black Sea, and we have a regular NATO presence in the Black Sea, with naval capabilities. Then of course we have three littoral states: Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria|archive-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226125506/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_160789.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>  Condemnation and support for sanctions of member countries and international community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_164656.htm|title=Statement by the North Atlantic Council on Crimea|date=18 March 2019|access-date=27 February 2022|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225155449/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_164656.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>  Reform and medical aid to the Ukrainian government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_116862.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=NATO Secretary General statement on the extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission|date=26 January 2015|access-date=27 February 2022|archive-date=27 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227184847/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_116862.htm?selectedLocale=en|url-status=live}}</ref>  Creation of the [[NATO Enhanced Forward Presence]].<ref name="eura">{{cite news |title=NATO war game defends Baltic weak spot for first time |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/nato-war-game-defends-baltic-weak-spot-for-first-time/ |publisher=EURACTIV MEDIA NETWORK BV |date=19 June 2017 |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102144029/https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/nato-war-game-defends-baltic-weak-spot-for-first-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| July 2015
| In response to the [[2015 Suruç bombing]], which it attributed to [[ISIS]], and other security issues along its southern border.<ref name=dt26>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11764178/Turkey-calls-for-Nato-meeting-to-discuss-Isil-and-PKK.html telegraph.co.uk: "Turkey calls for emergency Nato meeting to discuss Isil and PKK"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016195051/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11764178/Turkey-calls-for-Nato-meeting-to-discuss-Isil-and-PKK.html |date=16 October 2022 }}, 26 July 2015</ref><ref name="cnn july 2015 article 4">{{cite news | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/26/middleeast/turkey-nato-talks/ | title=Turkey calls for rare NATO talks after attacks along Syrian border | work=CNN | date=2015-07-27 | access-date=2015-07-27 | author=Ford, Dana | archive-date=16 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016195052/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/26/middleeast/turkey-nato-talks/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nyt27>[https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/middleeast/turkey-and-us-agree-on-plan-to-clear-isis-from-strip-of-northern-syria.html?_r=0 nytimes.com: "Turkey and U.S. Plan to Create Syria 'Safe Zone' Free of ISIS"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016195051/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/middleeast/turkey-and-us-agree-on-plan-to-clear-isis-from-strip-of-northern-syria.html?_r=0 |date=16 October 2022 }}, 27 July 2015</ref><ref name="nato.int">{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_121926.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by the North Atlantic Council following meeting under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty|date=28 July 2015|access-date=27 February 2022|archive-date=27 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227190355/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_121926.htm?selectedLocale=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{main|2015 NATO emergency meeting}}
Denunciation of the attack<ref name="nato.int"/> and [[Operation Active Fence#Russian entry into Syria and Suruç bombing|reassessment of NATO assets in Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_125486.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by NATO Foreign Ministers on Assurance to Turkey|date=2015-12-01|access-date=2022-02-27|quote=On the basis of our December 2012 decision, the Alliance has been augmenting Turkey's air defence. We remain determined, in a spirit of 28 for 28, to continue developing additional NATO assurance measures and Allies are working to prepare other possible contributions.|archive-date=27 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227184846/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_125486.htm?selectedLocale=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| February 2020
| Increasing tensions as part of the [[Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–present)|Northwestern Syria offensive]], including suspected<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/russia-denies-involvement-in-airstrikes-on-turkish-troops-in-idlib|title=Russia denies involvement in airstrikes on Turkish troops in Idlib|website=[[Daily Sabah]]|date=2020-02-28|access-date=2022-03-01|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228080529/https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/russia-denies-involvement-in-airstrikes-on-turkish-troops-in-idlib|url-status=live}}</ref> [[2020 Balyun airstrikes|Syrian and Russian airstrikes on Turkish troops]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tert.am/en/news/2020/02/29/idlib/3223514|title=Greece 'vetoes NATO statement' on support for Turkey amid Syria escalation|date=2020-02-29|access-date=2022-03-01|quote=The Russian military later explained that the Syrian army targeted Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorists operating in the province, adding that Syrian government forces were not informed about the Turkish presence in the area.|archive-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303074219/https://www.tert.am/en/news/2020/02/29/idlib/3223514|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=art4 />
|[[Operation Active Fence#Balyun Airstrikes|Augmentation of Turkish air defences]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_173939.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by the Secretary General after Article 4 consultations|date=2020-02-28|access-date=2022-02-27|archive-date=27 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227191153/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_173939.htm?selectedLocale=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/02/27/at-least-22-turkish-soliders-killed-in-syria-airstrike|title=Refugees reach Greek border as EU demands Turkey upholds its migration commitments|website=euronews.com|date=28 February 2020|access-date=28 February 2020|quote=The emergency meeting, held on Friday morning in Brussels, was held under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which allows any ally to request consultations if it feels its territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228081445/https://www.euronews.com/2020/02/27/at-least-22-turkish-soliders-killed-in-syria-airstrike|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Bulgaria}}<br />
{{flag|Czech Republic}}<br />
{{flag|Estonia}}<br />
{{flag|Latvia}}<br />
{{flag|Lithuania}}<br />
{{flag|Poland}}<br />
{{flag|Romania}}<br />
{{flag|Slovakia}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-24|title=NATO vows to defend its entire territory after Russia attack|url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-vladimir-putin-71bf9d3687e1a04f11dfb895639a13ca|access-date=2022-02-25|website=AP NEWS|language=en|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224095154/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-russia-vladimir-putin-71bf9d3687e1a04f11dfb895639a13ca|url-status=live}}</ref>
| February 2022
| [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dorzeczy.pl/kraj/267127/art-4-traktatu-waszyngtonskiego-polska-chce-jego-uruchomienia.html |website=[[Do Rzeczy]] |date=2022-02-24 |title=Polska chce uruchomienia art. 4 traktatu waszyngtońskiego. Wniosek już złożony |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224060034/https://dorzeczy.pl/kraj/267127/art-4-traktatu-waszyngtonskiego-polska-chce-jego-uruchomienia.html |archive-date=2022-02-24 }}</ref>
|
{{See also|2022 Brussels summit}}
Defensive build-up,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_192404.htm|title=Statement by the North Atlantic Council on Russia's attack on Ukraine|date=2022-02-24|access-date=2022-03-01|quote=Today, we have held consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all Allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defence across the Alliance.|archive-date=27 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527193355/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_192404.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Al-Jazeera-2022-02-28">{{cite news|title=NATO to deploy thousands of commandos to nations near Ukraine |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/25/nato-allies-to-provide-more-weapons-to-ukraine-stoltenberg-says |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220227/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/25/nato-allies-to-provide-more-weapons-to-ukraine-stoltenberg-says |archive-date=27 February 2022 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] |access-date=26 February 2022 |date=25 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[matériel]] support to [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|Ukraine]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/stoltenberg-varsler-mer-hjelp-1.15872539|title=Stoltenberg varsler mer hjelp|language=no|date=28 February 2022|website=NRK|access-date=28 February 2022|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228141917/https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/stoltenberg-varsler-mer-hjelp-1.15872539|url-status=live}}</ref> and activation of the [[NATO Response Force]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NATO puts warplanes on alert, to increase troop presence on eastern flank |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2022/02/24/nato-to-step-up-deterrence-measures-after-russian-attack-calls-summit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220226/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2022/02/24/nato-to-step-up-deterrence-measures-after-russian-attack-calls-summit |archive-date=26 February 2022 |website=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Lorne |title=NATO leaders agree to bolster eastern forces after invasion |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nato-leaders-meet-reassure-allies-russia-ukraine-83105473 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220226/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nato-leaders-meet-reassure-allies-russia-ukraine-83105473 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|}

====Threatened Invocations====

There have also been instances where Article 4 was not formally invoked, but instead threatened.  In fact, this was viewed as one of the original intentions for Article 4: as a means to elevate issues and provide member nations a means of deterrence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scholarlycommons.law.emory.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1224&context=eilr|author=Sherrod L. Bumgardner|title=Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty|access-date=2022-02-26|quote=In 1954, the first Secretary General of NATO, Lord Ismay, emphasized Article 4 consultation as a deterrence measure before an armed attack|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224215057/https://scholarlycommons.law.emory.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1224&context=eilr|url-status=live}}</ref>  For example, in November 2021, the Polish foreign ministry—along with Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia—briefly considered triggering Article 4 due to the [[2021–2022 Belarus–European Union border crisis|Belarusian migrant crisis]], but it was not formally requested.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/poland-considers-activating-natos-article-4-says-pm-25997|title=Poland considers activating Nato's Article 4, says PM|access-date=2022-02-25|date=2021-11-14|archive-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226002142/https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/poland-considers-activating-natos-article-4-says-pm-25997|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/baltics-pledge-support-to-poland-over-natos-article-4/|title=Baltics pledge support to Poland over NATO's Article 4|date=2021-11-16|access-date=2022-03-01|archive-date=1 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301231406/https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/baltics-pledge-support-to-poland-over-natos-article-4/|url-status=live}}</ref> And on 28 December 2024, Swedish member of parliament and former minister of defense, [[Peter Hultqvist]] wanted the government to activate Article 4 in response to the [[2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://omni.se/a/EyL6AK |title=Hultqvist om Östersjön: Aktivera Natos Artikel 4|date=28 December 2024|access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>