Washington DC, 4th April 1949
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,
theParties, 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 selfdefence 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(2), 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 area in Europe in which
occupation forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the
date when the Treaty entered into force or the Mediterranean Sea
or the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer.
ARTICLE 7
The Treaty does not effect, 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.
1 As amended by Article 2 of the Protocol to the North Atlantic
Treaty on the accesion of Greece and Turkey.
2 On 16th January 1963 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 3rd July 1962.
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 ratification 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.3
ARTICLE 12
After the Treaty has been in force for ten years, or at any time
3 The Treaty came into force on 24 August 1949, after the deposition
of the ratifications of all signatory states.
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 the other
signatories.
This text is part of the Internet Modern History Sourcebook.
The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted
texts for introductory level classes in modern European and World
history.
Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the
document is copyright. Permission is granted for electronic copying,
distribution in print form for educational purposes and personal
use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source.
No permission is granted for commercial use of the Sourcebook.
(c)Paul Halsall Aug 1997
