Poland summoned Article 4 of the NATO treaty. What does that mean?

Poland acquired Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after the fall of Russian drones that entered the airspace on Wednesday.

The accident came three days after the largest air attack in Russia on Ukraine since the beginning of its current invasion in 2022, and it represents the first time that a NATO member has been known to have launched the bullets since that war began.

The article is not known as Article 5 known, which states that the attack on one of the 32 member states is considered an attack on everyone.

But it is increasingly protesting.

Article 4, the shortest articles of the 14th NATO treaty, states: “The parties will consult together whenever any of them, in the opinion of any of them, the regional integrity, political independence, or the security of either side.”

Basically, this means that Poland can request consultation with her colleagues from NATO members.

NATO allies are holding conversations quickly

As a result, NATO allies held quickly on Wednesday about the incursion by several Russian aircraft aircraft in the Polish – and thus the alliance – the airspace and the shooting down of some weapons by the Polish fighter and the Dutch fighter.

The consultations at the NATO headquarters were part of a regular meeting of ambassadors from NATO.

But Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told Parliament that the discussions were held under Article 4 of the Treaty, which was established in 1949 in the wake of World War II.

“The article is designed to enhance coordination and better understanding in the alliance on external threats. It gives all allies the opportunity to put some threats or developments on North Atlantic agenda.”

This is not the first time that Poland has called for Article 4 in recent years. He previously did so early on Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Warsaw joined Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia to request consultations on February 24, 2022, following the full invasion of Russia for neighboring Ocrane.

Article 4 does not necessarily lead to Article 5

Consulting in Article 4 does not automatically take action under Article 5 of NATO.

Poland protested for the first time in Article 4 on March 3, 2014, “after the growing tensions in neighboring Ukraine, as a result of Russia’s aggressive actions,” according to NATO.

“Article 4 is relatively rare, but increasingly in recent years. Türkiye alone has protested between 2003-2020 in the context of Syria and Iraq,” Dean said in the comments.

The article does not necessarily lead to military action or step towards Article 5, although both articles are linked.

Dean said: “Article 5 was called only once, in response to the September 11 attacks on the United States, immediately exceeding Article 4. In other words: Article 4 can be called without operating Article 5 and vice versa.”