After the 9/11 attacks on America, Nato’s article 5 — which says an attack on one member is considered an attack on all — was invoked for the only time in its seven-decade history. When US forces began military action against Afghanistan, British and other Nato troops joined them. America’s withdrawal 20 years later, giving Nato allies little option but to pull out, delivers a double blow to the alliance. It has simultaneously laid bare the extent of Nato reliance on the US — and raised doubts about future American willingness to provide support to its allies.
在美國發生“9?11”襲擊之后，北約(NATO)的第五條款——對一個成員國的攻擊被視為是對全體成員國的攻擊——在其70年的歷史中唯一一次被動用。當美軍開始對阿富汗采取軍事行動時，英國和其他北約部隊也加入其中。20年后，美國的撤軍——讓北約盟國除了跟著撤軍以外幾乎別無選擇——給北約造成雙重打擊。它既暴露了北約對美國的依賴程度，也讓人懷疑美國未來是否愿意向其盟友提供支持。