DISINFO: NATO is American property used to justify every US intervention
SUMMARY
After the end of the Cold War, NATO became US property and a tool, justifying every American intervention. Article 5 is perceived as NATO members’ obligation to America, while the USA has freed itself from any commitments.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation message about NATO as a geopolitical project of the US. NATO was founded in 1949 by twelve sovereign nations: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. It has since grown to 29 Allies who each took an individual and sovereign decision to join this Alliance. All decisions in NATO are taken by consensus, which means that a decision can only be taken if every single member accepts it. No member of the Alliance can order the deployment of armed forces of other member states. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty embodies the principle of collective defense where an attack against one ally is considered an attack against all. See similar pro-Kremlin disinformation cases alleging that NATO is fully subordinated to the USA and Baltic states, Moldova and Poland are NATO “hostages”.