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 (1).
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:
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
the provisions 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.
Footnotes :
1. The definition of the territories to which Article 5 applies was
revised by Article 2 of the
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of Greece and Turkey and by the
Protocols signed on the accession of the Federal Republic of Germany and
of Spain.
2. On January 16,1963, the North Atlantic Council heard a declaration by the French Representative who recalled that by the vote on self-determination on July 1, 1962, the Algerian people had pronounced itself in favour of the independence of Algeria in co-operation with France. In consequence, the President of the French Republic had on July 3, 1962, formally recognised the independence of Algeria. The result was that the "Algerian departments of France" no longer existed as such, and that at the same time the fact that they were mentioned in the North Atlantic Treaty had no longer any bearing. Following this statement the Council noted that insofar as the former Algerian Departments of France were concerned, the relevant clauses of this Treaty had become inapplicable as from July 3, 1962.