Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation, and Mutual Assistance (The Warsaw Pact)

Warsaw, Poland - 14 May 1955

The contracting parties,

Reaffirming their desire for the organization of a system of European collective security based on the participation of all European states, irrespective of their social and political systems, which would make it possible to unite their efforts in the interests of ensuring peace in Europe,

Taking into consideration at the same time the situation that has come about in Europe as a result of the ratification of the Paris agreements, which provide for the formation of a new military alignment in the form of the “Western European Union,” with the participation of a remilitarized Western Germany and its inclusion in the North Atlantic bloc, which increases the danger of a new war and creates a threat to the national security of the peace-loving states,

Being convinced that in these circumstances the peace-loving states of Europe must take the necessary measures for ensuring their security and in the interests of maintaining peace in Europe,

Being guided by the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter,

In the interests of the further strengthening and development of friendship, cooperation, and mutual aid, in accordance with the principles of respect for the independence and sovereignty of states, and also with the principle of non-interference in their internal affairs,

Have resolved to conclude the present treaty of friendship, cooperation, and mutual aid…

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Article 1

The contracting parties undertake, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, to refrain in their international relations from the threat of the use of force, and to resolve their international disputes by peaceful means so as not to put international peace and security in danger.

Article 2

The contracting parties declare their readiness to participate, in the spirit of sincere cooperation, in all international actions having the aim of ensuring international peace and security, and will bend all their efforts to the realization of these aims.

In this, the contracting parties will strive for the adoption, with the agreement of other states that may wish to cooperate in this, of effective measures for the universal reduction of armaments and the prohibition of atomic, hydrogen, and other types of weapons of mass destruction.

Article 3

The contracting parties will consult among themselves on all important international questions touching on their common interests, being guided by the interests of the strengthening of international peace and security.

They will consult among themselves immediately, whenever, in the opinion of any of them, a threat of armed attack on one or more of the states that are signatories of the treaty has arisen, in the interests of the organization of their joint defense and the maintenance of peace and security.

Article 4

In the event of an armed attack in Europe on one or more of the states that are signatories of the treaty by any state or group of states, each state that is a party to this treaty shall, in the exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, render the state or states so attacked immediate assistance, individually and in agreement with other states that are parties to this treaty, by all the means it may consider necessary, including the use of armed force. The states that are parties to this treaty will immediately consult among themselves on the necessary joint measures to be adopted for the purpose of restoring and maintaining international peace and security.

These measures will be stopped as soon as the Security Council takes measures for the restoration and maintenance of international peace and security.

The Security Council will be advised of the measures taken on the basis of the present article, in accordance with the regulations of the United Nations Charter.

Article 5

The contracting parties have agreed on the creation of a joint command for their armed forces, which will be placed, by agreement among these parties, under this command, which will function on the basis of jointly established principles. They will also take other coordinated measures necessary for the strengthening of their defense capacity, in order to protect the peaceful labor of their peoples, to guarantee the inviolability of their frontiers and territories, and to ensure their defense against possible aggression.

Article 6

For the purpose of the implementation of the consultations among the states that are parties to this treaty, as provided for in the present treaty, and for the consideration of questions arising in connection with the implementation of this treaty, a political consultative committee is being set up, in which each state that is a party to this treaty will be represented by a member of the government or another specially appointed representative.

The committee may set up any auxiliary organs it may consider necessary.

Article 7

The contracting parties undertake not to participate in any coalitions or alliances and not to conclude any agreements whose aims are contrary to the aims of the present treaty.

The contracting parties declare that their obligations under existing international treaties are not contrary to the regulations of the present treaty.

Article 8

The contracting parties declare that they will act in the spirit of friendship and cooperation, with the aim of the further development and strengthening of the economic and cultural ties among them, adhering to the principles of mutual respect for their independence and sovereignty and of non-interference in their internal affairs.

Article 9

The present treaty is open to the accession of other states, irrespective of their social and political structure, which may express their readiness to assist, through their participation in the present treaty, in the unification of the efforts of the peace-loving states for the purpose of ensuring the peace and security of the peoples. Such an accession will come into force with the agreement of the states that are parties to this treaty, after the instrument of accession has been deposited with the government of the Polish People’s Republic.

Article 10

The present treaty is subject to ratification, and the instruments of ratification will be deposited with the government of the Polish People’s Republic.

The treaty will come into force on the day the last instrument of ratification is deposited. The government of the Polish People’s Republic will advise the other states that are signatories of this treaty of the deposition of each instrument of ratification.

Article 11

The present treaty will remain in force for twenty years. For the contracting parties that do not, one year before the expiration of this period, present to the government of the Polish People’s Republic a declaration of their desire to denounce the treaty, it will remain in force for the next ten years.

In the event of the organization of a system of collective security in Europe and the conclusion of a general European treaty of collective security for this purpose, for which the contracting parties will unswervingly strive, the present treaty shall cease to be operative from the day the general European treaty comes into force.