The famous NATO Article 5 begins with the words “The Parties agree an attack on one or more in Europe or North America will be considered as an attack on them all.” This line calls upon each member to fight if any is attacked.
Children today don’t recite treaty texts. And, to be honest, neither did kids in my time. We were children. We lived like kids. We rode bikes, ate PBJs, and taunted teachers. If you asked an adult who was reasonably informed about the North Atlantic Treaty, they may remember the basics. The article was a hot topic during the Cold War and again after 9/11, the only time it has been used. Recently, Finland, Sweden, and Ukraine (in vain), have applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty.
In 1949, Washington carefully drafted Article 5, which stipulated that an attack on a member must occur in Europe or North America. This was done to ensure that Washington would not go to war to defend British or French colonies in Africa and Asia.
You’re on your lonesome in Vietnam.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Since 1975 — and despite mildly teasing me, our war in Vietnam was not a NATO operation — NATO has protected all its members both on the North Atlantic side.
OK, so sometimes things don’t work out exactly as planned. But for 75 years — and our war in Vietnam wasn’t a NATO operation, despite my mild teasing — NATO has provided mutual protection to its members on both sides of the North Atlantic.
Could we borrow Milei? Please?
Milei now says that he wants to form a partnership with NATO. You know the organization that is for Europe and North America. Argentina does not belong to either of these places.
Milei is not referring to Argentine troops being committed to Europe’s defense. As I recall, Argentina had trouble in the past committing troops to the Falkland Islands. What he wants is a partnership between NATO and Argentina. Luis Alfonso Petri, the Defense Minister, submitted a formal request to NATO on Thursday. He announced that he had met Geoana, NATO’s Deputy Secretary-General. I sent him a letter of intention, in which Argentina asked to be a global member of the organization.
There’s precedent to Argentina’s request, whether you believe it or not. Colombia received NATO partnership status during President Donald Trump’s first term. NATO and Colombia are partners, but not allies, and they work together to combat terrorism, corruption, and cyber security. Colombia offers demining training for NATO Allies and Partner Countries, while NATO supports Colombia’s efforts to continue to develop its military.
Milei wants Argentina to be more Westernized, as it used to be in the past.
Before you ask, today the British Foreign Office stated: “On the Falkland Islands, both the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom and President Milei agreed to disagree politely.”
As partners should.
