Final answer:
NATO members pledged to respond to an attack on any member nation as if they themselves had been attacked, in accordance with the collective defense principle of the alliance. The correct option is b. Respond as if they themselves had been attacked
Step-by-step explanation:
NATO's Collective Defense Clause
The members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pledged to respond to an attack on any member nation as per Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. This key tenet of collective defense asserted that an attack on one or more of the alliance's members 'shall be considered an attack against them all.' Established during the mounting tensions of the Cold War, NATO's purpose was to offer mutual defense against potential Soviet aggression and discourage Soviet expansion and influence.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the organization's mission evolved to focus on the broader security interests of its members while maintaining its foundational commitment to mutual military assistance in the event of an attack.
Therefore, if any member nation was attacked, NATO members pledged to respond as if they themselves had been attacked, not just accept refugees, ask the UN for help, or permit Soviet influence to grow. This pledge was an integral part of the alliance's strategy to maintain peace and stability within the Western Bloc, in stark contrast to the Eastern Bloc, led by the Soviet Union and its allies. The correct option is b. Respond as if they themselves had been attacked