News

Huh, Who’da Thunk?

2 April 2024
KITDAFBS

Well I learned something today. Hawaii is not covered by Article 5 of the NATO charter. That means if there was an attack on Hawaii — by say, the CCP or North Korea — the other NATO countries would not be bound to aid the US.

Seems a bit odd no? It turns out there is a reason for the lack of inclusion. It’s spelled out in Article 6 of the Charter.

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

  • on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on the Algerian Departments of France 2, on the territory of Turkey or on the Islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer;
  • on the forces, vessels, or aircraft of any of the Parties, when in or over these territories or any other area in Europe in which occupation forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the date when the Treaty entered into force or the Mediterranean Sea or the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer
NATO
NATO HQ, Brussels

That was why nobody but the US helped out the Brits when Argentina got a little froggy about the Falklands in 1982. Las Malvinas are not in the North Atlantic, not by a long shot. Neither is Hawaii.

A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that Hawaii is not covered by Article 5, but said Article 4, which says members will consult when “the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of any member is threatened, should cover any situation that could affect the 50th state. The spokesperson also said any treaty amendment to include Hawaii would be unlikely to gain consensus because other members have territories outside of the boundaries set in Article 5.

Consult, yeah. The fact is, the CCP leadership sees this as a potential wedge between the US and NATO. At least most of NATO, the Brits would jump in on our side if the PLA attacked Pearl Harbor or INDOPACOM HQ at Camp Smith. As an armchair strategist, an attack on Honolulu is a probable first step if the ChiComs decide to finally attack Taiwan.