Mutual Defense Clause

A Mutual Defense Clause is an agreement between countries or organizations that states if one member is attacked, the others will come to its defense. This creates a security commitment, discouraging potential aggressors because they face a united response. A well-known example is Article 5 of NATO, which states that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all members. Essentially, it’s a promise of support and protection to enhance collective security and deter conflict.