NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has acknowledged that the alliance could invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty amid rising tensions surrounding the military operation conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran. He discussed the possibility in an interview with the Newsmax television channel.

According to Rutte, NATO is already examining scenarios in which the collective defense clause might come into play. Article 5 предусматривает совместный ответ всех стран альянса в случае нападения на одного из его членов, obliging the alliance to respond collectively if any member state is attacked.

The NATO chief stressed that the organization’s primary mission remains the defense of the territories of its member states. In his assessment, the alliance is prepared to protect every part of allied territory should the confrontation in the Middle East escalate further.

At the same time, Rutte pointed out that NATO countries are not officially participating directly in combat operations against Iran. However, several member states are providing significant support to the military actions carried out by the United States.

He also noted that NATO functions as an important platform enabling Washington to strengthen its military and political presence worldwide. European allies, in particular, grant access to infrastructure such as military bases, logistics hubs, and other strategic facilities, which supports American operations.

Earlier, NATO representatives condemned Tehran’s actions following an incident involving the interception of a ballistic missile in Turkish airspace. However, alliance spokesperson Allison Hart stated that, despite the episode, activating the collective defense mechanism is not currently under consideration.