London ¨C The day after Russian tanks and troops poured across the Ukrainian border on Feb. 24, NATO leaders received a deeply frightening message. The alliance¡¯s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, opened an emergency video summit by warning that President Vladimir Putin had ¡°shattered peace in Europe¡± and that from now on, he would openly contest the continent¡¯s security order.
However unlikely, Stoltenberg told the leaders, it was no longer unthinkable that Putin would attack a NATO member. Such a move would trigger the collective defense clause in the North Atlantic Treaty, opening the door to the ultimate nightmare scenario: a direct military conflict with Russia.
President Joe Biden, who had dialed in from the White House Situation Room, spoke up swiftly. Article 5 was ¡°sacrosanct,¡± he said, referring to the ¡°one for all, all for one¡± principle that has anchored NATO since its founding after World War II. Biden urged allied leaders to step up and send reinforcements to Europe¡¯s eastern flank, according to multiple officials briefed on the call.
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