[bbatha]

NATO was not involved in Iraq, though many members were under the banner of the "coalition of the willing".

Afghanistan was not an offensive war but mutual defense invoked over article 5. We can debate whether that covered the duration of the war, but when article 5 was invoked it was not seen as controversial nor viewed as an offensive war.

[rascul]

> Afghanistan was not an offensive war but mutual defense invoked over article 5. We can debate whether that covered the duration of the war, but when article 5 was invoked it was not seen as controversial nor viewed as an offensive war.

I have heard this said before, but it was never explained to me how invading another country is considered defense and not offense.

[type0]

That's basically the argument Putin is using for invading Ukraine, the best defense is offense

[dragonwriter]

> NATO was not involved in Iraq, though many members were under the banner of the "coalition of the willing".

The “coalition of the willing” was largely propaganda; only four countries (3 of which were NATO members) were involved in the invasion.