NATO Topics: NATO and the fight against terrorism

NATO Topics: NATO and the fight against terrorism: "NATO and the fight against terrorism" The 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington thrust not only the United States but also the entire NATO Alliance into the fight against terrorism. Less than 24 hours after the attacks, NATO invoked for the first time Article 5 of the Washington Treaty - its collective defence clause - declaring the attacks to be an attack against all NATO members. The Alliance subsequently deployed aircraft and ships in support of the United States. Since then, and following other tragic attacks, NATO has been engaged actively in the campaign against terrorism on both the political and military fronts. What does this mean in practice? NATO is contributing to the fight against terrorism through military operations in Afghanistan, the Balkans and the Mediterranean and by taking steps to protect its populations and territory against terrorist attacks.More… How did it evolve? The Alliances 1999 Strategic Concept already identified terrorism as one of the risks affecting NATOs security. The Alliances response to September 11, however, saw NATO engage actively in the fight against terrorism, launch its first operations outside Europe and begin a far-reaching transformation of its capabilities.More… Which NATO bodies play a central role? The North Atlantic Council, the Alliance’s principal decision-making body, decides on NATO’s overall role in the fight against terrorism. Specific aspects of NATO’s involvement (e.g. co-operation with partners) are developed though specialized bodies and committees.More…