The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in
the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their
desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments. They are
determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of
their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty
and the rule of law. They seek to promote stability and well-being in the
North Atlantic area. They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective
defence and for the preservation of peace and security. They therefore
agree to this North Atlantic Treaty :
Article 1
The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations,
to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful
means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice
are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from
the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes
of the United Nations.
Article 2
The Parties will contribute toward the further development of peaceful
and friendly international relations by strengthening their free institutions,
by bringing about a better understanding of the principles upon which these
institutions are founded, and by promoting conditions of stability and
well-being. They will seek to eliminate conflict in their international
economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between any
or all of them.
Article 3
In order more effectively to achieve the objectives of this Treaty,
the Parties, separately and jointly, by means of continuous and effective
self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and
collective capacity to resist armed attack.
Article 4
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
Article 5
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 6
For the purpose of Article 5, an armed attack on one or more of the
Parties is deemed to include an armed attack:
- on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America,
on the Algerian Departments of France, on the territory of Turkey or on
the Islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic
area north of the Tropic of Cancer;
- on the forces, vessels, or aircraft of any of the Parties, when in
or over these territories or any other area in Europe in which occupation
forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the date when the Treaty
entered into force or theMediterranean Sea or the North Atlantic area north
of the Tropic of Cancer.
Article 7
This Treaty does not affect, and shall not be interpreted as affecting
in any way the rights and obligations under the Charter of the Parties
which are members of the United Nations, or the primary responsibility
of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and
security.
Article 8
Each Party declares that none of the international engagements now in
force between it and any other of the Parties or any third State is in
conflict with theprovisions of this Treaty, and undertakes not to enter
into any international engagement in conflict with this Treaty.
Article 9
The Parties hereby establish a Council, on which each of them shall
be represented, to consider matters concerning the implementation of this
Treaty. The Council shall be so organised as to be able to meet promptly
at any time. The Council shall set up such subsidiary bodies as may be
necessary; in particular it shall establish immediately a defence committee
which shall recommend measures for the implementation of Articles 3 and
5.
Article 10
The Parties may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European State
in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute
to the security of the North Atlantic area to accede to this Treaty. Any
State so invited may become a Party to the Treaty by depositing its instrument
of accession with the Government of the United States of America. The Government
of the United States of America will inform each of the Parties of the
deposit of each such instrument of accession.
Article 11
This Treaty shall be ratified and its provisions carried out by the
Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. The
instruments of ratification shall be deposited as soon as possible with
the Government of the United States of America, which will notify all the
other signatories of each deposit. The Treaty shall enter into force between
the States which have ratified it as soon as the ratifications of the majority
of the signatories, including the ratifications of Belgium, Canada, France,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States,
have been deposited and shall come into effect with respect to other States
on the date of the deposit of their ratifications.
Article 12
After the Treaty has been in force for ten years, or at any time thereafter,
the Parties shall, if any of them so requests, consult together for the
purpose of reviewing the Treaty, having regard for the factors then affecting
peace and security in the North Atlantic area, including the development
of universal as well as regional arrangements under the Charter of the
United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Article 13
After the Treaty has been in force for twenty years, any Party may cease
to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation has been given
to the Government of the United States of America, which will inform the
Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation
Article 14
This Treaty, of which the English and French texts are equally authentic,
shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States
of America. Duly certified copies will be transmitted by that Government
to the Governments of other signatories.