When All Else Fails....

When preventive measures against WMD attacks prove inadequate, an individual country must be fully prepared to respond to the aftermath of WMD use, whether perpetrated by hostile states or terrorists. This extends to assisting partners when necessary. In the event of a CBRN incident affecting Alliance members or partners, NATO should, upon request, offer assistance to add value to the response efforts.

Allied Governments bear the primary sovereign responsibility for preparing for and mitigating the consequences of CBRN events. Their first responders should possess a comprehensive toolkit for rapid identification, assessment, and response on domestic soil. Recognizing that major civil emergencies can jeopardize security and stability, and CBRN consequence management is a complex and potentially extensive undertaking, NATO always stands ready to contribute its capabilities to national authorities upon request. Enhanced civil preparedness by Allies diminishes the attractiveness of employing such methods, especially when coupled with other prevention and protection measures.

The planning for CBRN consequence management is a multifaceted endeavor requiring coordination within the Alliance, with civilian emergency planning authorities, and other relevant international organizations. In the case of NATO it offers significant CBRN defense capabilities to support Allies' and partners' first responders, serving as a forum for coordinating planning arrangements. On a case-by-case basis and upon request, NATO is prepared to assist with CBRN defense assessments, provide training, funding, technical and legal assistance, information sharing, and more. The Alliance will work to coordinate and harmonize military and non-military CBRN defense capabilities, ensuring a comprehensive approach and developing recovery mechanisms for CBRN events.

In the case of a deliberate disease outbreak, NATO will closely collaborate with partners and relevant international organizations as deemed appropriate.