Official NATO statements, major news outlets

NATO Clarifies Cyber-Attacks Could Trigger Article 5, Warns Russia

Jun 1, 2024, 06:19 PM

NATO has clarified that a cyber-attack on any of its member states could trigger Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which calls for collective self-defense. This decision was reiterated by Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, during a speech at the Singapore defense summit. Bauer emphasized that for Article 5 to be invoked, it must be established that the cyber-attack was state-sponsored and not carried out by private individuals. This move aligns cyber-attacks with armed attacks, allowing NATO to respond similarly to physical attacks if the cyber-attack is devastating enough to disrupt societal functions. Last year, NATO warned Russia that any cyber-attack would trigger Article 5.