A cyber attack could trigger Article 5 of the NATO Charter
NATO members agree that a cyber attack could trigger Article 5 of the NATO Charter.
.png)
According to RIA Novosti, at the 5th special session of the Shangri-La Dialogue (Singapore) 2024 on cyber defense and the future of war on June 1, the head of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, said that NATO countries agreed that a cyber attack on one of them could be a reason to invoke Article 5 of the alliance's Charter.
“We have agreed within NATO that this is a joint decision by all allies: In principle, a cyber attack can start the process of making a decision to invoke Article 5,” said Admiral Rob Bauer.
Mr Bauer noted that not only a “physical attack” but also a cyber attack could become the basis for starting a debate on invoking Article 5 of the alliance’s Charter and “conducting further procedures”.
Article 5 of the NATO Charter requires a response by all members of the alliance, including militaries, to an attack by any country on one of the NATO member states.
Admiral Bauer clarified that in order to recognize a cyber attack on a nation's critical digital infrastructure as an act of war, “it is necessary first to ensure that the attack was carried out by a State agency, and not by an anonymous private actor.”
“Otherwise it would be unclear who to fight,” he said.
The Shangri-La Dialogue is an annual event organized by the Singapore branch of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. This year, the event is being held for the 21st time, and will end on June 2.
