Fay,Thank you for sending that article link to FiveDoves.Mr Rubin's analysis seems, to me, to be spot on.The Nato aspect was really interesting, and also considering that only ~3% of Turkey is in Europe.At the moment, if Turkey started actions against Israel, and Israel responded, some current Nato heads may not consider it an article 5 response.However, the previous US administration, as well as the Obama administration, could have interpreted that as triggering article 5.So, could a future where both European and US leaders might be very much opposed to Israel, tempt Turkey into provoking Israel, so they all could invoke article 5?
Article 5
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Another piece of information on the same website:Although NATO Allies have only invoked Article 5 once, they have coordinated collective defence measures on several occasions.
On the request of Türkiye, on three occasions, NATO has put collective defence measures in place:
- in 1991 with the deployment of Patriot missiles during the Gulf War,
- in 2003 with the agreement on a package of defensive measures and conduct of Operation Display Deterrence during the crisis in Iraq, and
- in 2012 in response to the situation in Syria with the deployment of Patriot missiles.