Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that if a NATO country is attacked, all other countries must come to its defense.
Prior to today's NATO summit, Trump has once again created uncertainty about the US stance.
On board the presidential plane Air Force One on the way to the meeting in The Hague, he was asked if the US still considers itself bound by Article 5.
It depends on how you define it. There are several interpretations of Article 5. You know that, don't you? But I am determined to be their friend, Trump replied according to the media.
My task is to save lives, lives and safety. And I will give you an exact definition (of Article 5) when I get there. I don't want to do it on an airplane.
No discussion
At a brief press conference with the Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof after the summit, he emphasizes that he supports the article.
–I fully support it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, says Trump.
According to Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, the issue was not discussed at the meeting.
–Article 5 for me is a very simple article: I understand it as (a rule for) "one for all and all for one". There were no discussions about the content of Article 5 today and I think that was good, says Nauseda to the press in The Hague after the meeting.
"Absolutely clear"
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says he fully trusts that the US will defend NATO countries that are attacked.
Because we have had so many conversations in the past six months with so many people from the US, and everyone is unanimous. Article 5 applies, he says upon arrival at the meeting in The Hague.
Nor does NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte say he is worried that the US has a deviating opinion.
–Article 5 is absolutely clear. At the same time, we have always said that we will not go into details about when Article 5 will be triggered. Because we do not want to make our opponents wiser. The US fully supports Article 5, says Rutte at his press conference after the summit.
Wiktor Nummelin/TT
Tina Magnergård Bjers/TT
Peter Wallberg/TT
Facts: NATO's Article 5
TT
The core of the military alliance NATO is the so-called Article 5, which states that an attack on a NATO country is an attack on the entire alliance and that all members are obliged to help the country. Article 5 has only been used once so far in NATO history: when the US asked for help immediately after the terrorist attacks on the US East Coast on September 11, 2001.
