GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER PISTORIUS: SUPPORT POLAND'S ACTION IN INVOKING ARTICLE 4 OF NATO TREATY Article 4 of the NATO Treaty allows any member state to request consultations with other members when it believes its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened. It is a mechanism for dialogue and coordination among allies, short of invoking Article 5, which calls for collective defense in case of an armed attack.(*Walter Bloomberg)