diplomacyWednesday, July 8, 20262 sources
NATO Summit Declaration Condemns Russia, Commits to Article 5, Backs US-Iran Strikes
At the NATO summit in Brussels, member states reaffirmed their commitment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, pledging collective defense against Russian aggression. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte endorsed recent US strikes on Iran as 'absolutely necessary' to counter Iranian threats. The declaration also emphasized continued support for Ukraine.
The final NATO declaration, released on July 8, 2026, explicitly stated that member states are 'unanimously committed to the principles of Article 5,' which guarantees collective defense against an armed attack. The document directly linked Russia to 'long-term threats' and reaffirmed support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, in a separate statement, praised the US-led strikes on Iran, calling them 'absolutely necessary' to deter further Iranian aggression.
Sources
StateTASSJul 8, 06:40 PM
Russia as long-term threat and obligations to Ukraine: NATO summit declarationIn the final declaration, the NATO countries declared their commitment to Article 5 on collective defense
StateTASSJul 8, 01:49 PM
Russia as threat, support for Ukraine, US strikes on Iran: NATO chief’s statementsMark Rutte called the recent US strikes against Iran "absolutely necessary"