Positions at a glance
Supporters
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) famously includes a collective defense clause in Article 5 of its founding treaty, stating that an armed attack against one or more members is considered an attack against all. This clause was invoked only once, following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, which led to allied support for the U.S. in its response. Similarly, the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, known as the Rio Treaty, also contains a collective defense provision among countries in the Americas.
Opponents
A Collective Defense clause operates as a security guarantee among allied nations, stipulating that if one member is attacked, all members consider it an attack against themselves. This triggers a unified response, which can include diplomatic, economic, or military actions to defend the victimized member. The clause creates a binding commitment that ensures mutual protection, deterring potential aggressors by raising the cost of attacking any single member.
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NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause was invoked after the September 11, 2001 attacks, leading member states to support the United States' response.
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