So, the aim of this organisation is to find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity, changing the world and keeping peace; and this is the main reason why I chose to dig deep into it.

The purpose of the UN is also particularly clear in its flag, which is a symbol that carries out its work:  the emblem presents a pair of olive tree branches and a map of the world as aspirational symbols for people all over the world, for they speak to their hopes and dreams of peace and unity.

These goals are therefore moral and social (such as poverty, hunger, good health and well-being), unlike those of NATO, so this organisation touched me more deeply and seemed more interesting to me.  This year I will also be participating in a project with the United Nations in New York, so I was obviously biased.

 

In 1995, NATO engaged against the forces of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Firstly, I chose to deal with this operation because it is the first military action in the history of NATO, and it is one of the most challenging events in which it has been involved, also in the following years.

Furthermore, I believe that today we don't talk about it much anymore. I didn't know much information about it, so I decided to deal with it, so as to inform others who, like me, want to discover new things and aspects of NATO. To get to know NATO better, you need to know this mission, because from here everything has changed, it was no longer what it was before, and thanks to the victory in this conflict, it has been shown how much it helps us today, yesterday and tomorrow.

Finally, the last reason is a reason that deals with the theme of humanity. After decades of wars, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, once again we have seen how people have no qualms about killing each other. The bombs dropped during the Markale massacre killed hundreds of people, and even later, as NATO entered the conflict, the deaths of innocent men and women increased, demonstrating how people, during wars and conflicts, even if unrelated to the facts, they somehow end up tragically involved.

Secondly, because it is very impressive to see how the union of experts, scientists from different countries can lead to such great innovation by sharing information with each other. 

And finally because I am convinced that science is increasingly fundamental for the development and growth of our society, as through new technologies it helps us to improve ourselves. https://express.adobe.com/page/rVf1iDHaBMoRi/

The second main reason is that when I read all the topic in NATO’s website my attention has been captured by this topic and I wanted to do a little research about it.

Last but not least I thought it would be interesting to search and find all the NATO’s records.

I decided to dig deep with CYBER DEFENCE: there are many reasons why I chose this topic such as the fact that sometimes an internet attack can be far more dangerous than a normal attack.

However, I believe that the main reason is that INTERNET is paramount for us today: in fact, internet has become one of the most vital tools for communication, information, and entertainment in today's globalized world. As of 2020, more than half of the global population is connected to the internet, and while some regions still lack the infrastructure that is needed to provide sufficient online coverage, others are seeing internet penetration rates of close to 100 percent. 

I chose to dig deep into what occurred with NATO in 2003 in Afghanistan. This mission caught immediately my attention for three main reasons: 
first of all, I’ve always thought since 1945, NATO didn't intervene in other conflicts, and when I came across this mission I was quite surprised. 
Secondly I was eager to search for more pieces of information about what is happening in Afghanistan, since unfortunately we have heard about this conflict for many year, and I’ve never had the opportunity to dig deep into it, moreover I desired to understand  how different forces were involved in the conflic. Lastly I wanted to be able to keep up with the future news about the critical situation of Afghanistan due to the return of Talibans.

Second of all, I decided to deal with it because I wanted to know if resilience deals only with the military field or not, and in addition, what are the other fields where resilience is implied.

Third of all, because it was in my interest to know how and when NATO can ” invoke” this peculiar element.

As we all know, also by listening to all the different presentations, the primary aim of the North Atlantic Treaty was to create a pact of mutual assistance to counter the risk that the Soviet Union was representing.

Article 5, one of the pillars of this paramount treaty states that:

“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.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”

This basically provides that if a NATO Ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally attacked.

This article is complemented by Article 6, which stipulates:

Article 61

“For the purpose of Article 5, an armed attack on one or more of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack:

With the invocation of Article 5 and 6 Allies can provide any form of assistance they deem necessary to respond to a situation. 

This is an individual obligation on each Ally and each Ally is responsible for determining what it deems necessary in the particular circumstances.

This assistance is taken forward in concert with other Allies. It is not necessarily military and depends on the material resources of each country. It is therefore left to the judgment of each individual member country to determine how it will contribute. 

Each country will consult with the other members, bearing in mind that the ultimate aim is to “to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area”.

At the drafting of Article 5 in the late 1940s, there was consensus on the principle of mutual assistance, but fundamental disagreement on the modalities of implementing this commitment. The European participants wanted to ensure that the United States would automatically come to their assistance should one of the signatories come under attack; the United States did not want to make such a pledge and obtained that this be reflected in the wording of Article 5.

The United States was the object of brutal terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. The Alliance's 1999 Strategic Concept had already identified terrorism as one of the risks affecting NATO’s security. The Alliance’s response to 9/11, however, saw NATO engage actively in the fight against terrorism, launch its first operations outside the Euro-Atlantic area and begin a far-reaching transformation of its capabilities. 

Moreover, it led NATO to invoke Article 5 of the Treaty for the very first and only time in its history.

On the evening of 12 September 2001, less than 24 hours after the attacks, the Allies invoked the principle of Article 5. Then NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson subsequently informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the Alliance's decision.

The North Atlantic Council – NATO’s principal political decision-making body – agreed that if it determined that the attack was directed from abroad against the United States, it would be regarded as an action covered by Article 5. On 2 October, once the Council had been briefed on the results of investigations into the 9/11 attacks, it determined that they were regarded as an action covered by Article 5.

By invoking Article 5, NATO members showed their solidarity toward the United States and condemned, in the strongest possible way, the terrorist attacks against the United States.

Taking action

After 9/11, there were consultations among the Allies and collective action was decided by the Council. The United States could also carry out independent actions, consistent with its rights and obligations under the United Nations Charter.

On 4 October, once it had been determined that the attacks came from abroad, NATO agreed on a package of eight measures to support the United States.

The eight measures to support the United States, as agreed by NATO were:

Nowadays we have been hearing the fact that Vladimir Putin, the current president of Russia condemns the entrance of his neighbourhood state Ukraine inside this treaty.

Following what article 5 and 6 state, if Ukraine becomes part of the alliance, every nato me,ber should intervene. 

There are plenty of opinions on whether Ukraine should be part of nato. On one hand, Some people reckon that it should be in order to give support to this country and end this war. On the other, A lot of people are are absolutely against because it would imply the beginning of the Third World War because all 30 states would have the obligation to fight against the Russian army. 

Despite all the opinions, what we can surely state in order to destroy fake news and to spread awareness, is that:

I hope you enjoyed my presentation and also learned or understood this topic better