Attack on US ‘is attack on all Nato’

Nato tonight delivered the backing America was seeking over the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Talks between ambassadors of the 19 Alliance nations in Brussels resulted in a unanimous declaration reaffirming that an attack on one Nato member is considered as an attack on them all.

The move endorses one of Nato’s founding principles and virtually guarantees America strategic as well as moral support in the event of any military retaliation devised by Washington - if a perpetrator is clearly identified.

Tonight’s declaration from Nato headquarters after a day of talks completed a series of strong public statements of sympathy and support from key global allies and institutions.

The European Union declared a day of mourning on Friday and issued a statement expressing solidarity and pledging full support in seeking out and punishing the perpetrators.

And when asked if the EU would support any military response by the US authorities, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insisted: ‘‘Issues of military action are matters for Nato, not for the European Union.’’

Tonight, Nato delivered its verdict, invoking for the first time in its history its ‘‘all-for-one-and-all-for-all’’ commitment set out in Article Five of its Charter.

Nato Secretary-General Lord Robertson confirmed that the terrorist attacks in America were deemed to have been an attack on the whole Alliance.

He said the US would therefore receive support for military action if the attacks were identified as having been perpetrated by foreign nationals.

‘‘The parties will take such action as it deems necessary, including armed force,’’ Lord Robertson told a news conference. ‘‘An attack on one is an attack on all.’’

The decision bolsters Washington’s efforts to garner the broadest possible support in its battle against terrorism.

It also obliges America’s allies to provide support for any military operation, from opening up air space and providing intelligence and logistical support to actual troops and equipment.

In a statement, the 19 Nato allies said that ‘‘in the event of attacks ... each ally will assist (the United States) by taking such action as it deems necessary.

Accordingly, the United States’ Nato allies stand ready to provide the assistance that may be required as a consequence of these acts of barbarism.’’