[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I wondered what would happen if there was a civil war in the U.S. and one or both sides tried to invoke Article 5. According to the article, it can be invoked in a civil war if one of the sides is deemed to be "an attacker". Granted, it is pretty far fetched, but the scenarios that could play out in such a situation are numerous, super interesting, but also pretty scary. I mean, if someone wanted to destroy NATO, this would be the way to do it.

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The Treaty doesn't specify

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 recognised 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 .

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/o...20agree%20that

Honestly though, I don't see a U.S. civil war as being one with clear sides or battlegrounds. It would be more like The Troubles or the types of movement you see in places like South America. Basically just super high murder rates and terrorist attacks with no boundaries

"no boundaries" is what bothers me. History is littered with Civil Wars that spread outside of the orginating nation's boarders