Poland has summoned the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to meet on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Ukraine, where Russia has invaded and effectively taken over the Crimea.
According to a statement by NATO on Monday, Poland called the meeting of fellow treaty members under Article 4 of the NATO treaty: “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.”
NATO added: “The developments in and around Ukraine are seen to constitute a threat to neighboring Allied countries and having direct and serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area.”
Ukraine is not a member of NATO. Had it been, it could have called a meeting under Article 5 of the treaty, the same provision invoked by the U.S. after the Sep. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Article 5 provides that “an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.”
Photo: NATO
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