Canada and NATO: The Campaign Against Terrorism
Following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) responded by invoking Article 5 of its Charter for the first time in the alliance's more than 50-year history. Canada strongly supported NATO's move.
Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which created NATO in 1949, states:
- The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, 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.
- Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.
Article 5 is commonly known as the collective defence article. If a NATO ally is the victim of an armed attack, it provides that each and every other member of the alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the attacked ally.
At the start of the Cold War, Canada's then Secretary of State for External Affairs pledged Canadian association with some form of collective defence system that would link members politically, economically and socially. Article 5 embodied the political commitment and was envisioned to ensure U.S. and Canadian involvement in the defence of Europe. It was unimaginable in 1949 that Article 5 would first be invoked in the defence of the U.S.
The North Atlantic Council, NATO's top decision-making body, invoked the spirit of Article 5 following a debate at NATO headquarters on September 12, 2001 – a clear demonstration of tremendous solidarity within the alliance. The Council decided that if it was determined that the attacks were directed from abroad, they would be actions covered by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Subsequently, on October 2, 2001, the U.S. Ambassador at Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism briefed the North Atlantic Council on the results of investigations into the September 11 terrorist attacks against the U.S. As a result of the information he provided to the Council, the Council decided that the U.S. had presented clear and compelling evidence that the individuals who carried out the attacks belonged to the worldwide terrorist network of Al-Qaeda, headed by Osama bin Laden and protected by the Taleban regime in Afghanistan.
At a special press conference, NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson announced that since it had been determined that the attacks had been directed from abroad, they were regarded as an action covered by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.
Alliance members as well as a wide coalition of partner nations, collectively and individually, have lent their support to the common effort. The alliance itself will continue to provide military and other support, to consult on the implications for its security, and to take whatever defensive measures are necessary.
The U.S. has also turned to NATO itself. It has asked for a range of specific measures, such as enhanced intelligence support, blanket overflight rights for U.S. and other allied aircraft, and access to ports and airfields.
Elements of NATO's Standing Naval Forces are also to be deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean. Most significant is the move of five NATO Airborne Warning and Control Systems aircraft (AWACS) from their base in Europe across the Atlantic to replace U.S. aircraft now being transferred to Asia. This is NATO's first operational deployment in the U.S.
Several NATO allies, including Canada, have pledged direct military support as this operation unfolds. Canada's Operation Apollo, is contributing five naval vessels, as well as air surveillance and transport units. In all some 2000 Canadian Forces personnel are directly involved.
Importance of NATO to Canada
NATO's fundamental purpose remains to provide for the security of the North Atlantic area. Canada is a member of NATO because we believe that collective defence is the most effective and efficient way of protecting our democratic values and traditions. NATO is the only international institution in existence with an integrated command structure, standardized operating procedures and standing forces available to support preventive diplomacy, crisis management and peacekeeping. NATO's successful deployment in the Balkans has demonstrated how well alliance military structures can work in time of need.
NATO provides a close interface between the political and military dimensions of security offering a unique forum for dialogue and cooperation. During the deliberations leading to the Washington Treaty, Canada worked hard to ensure the inclusion of a commitment to non-military cooperation. This concept was embodied in Article 2 of the Washington Treaty – often called the "Canadian Article." It commits alliance members to contribute to assisting the further development of peaceful and friendly international relations.
The alliance is a cornerstone in Canada's relations with Europe. Canada benefits significantly from the diplomatic weight, technical expertise and military capabilities of the NATO alliance. The dividends of Canada's investment in NATO include access to strategic information, exercises with allied forces, and an equal voice in high-level decisions affecting European security and stability.
I've seen that first hand.
