Category: Europe

NATO’s KFOR mission maintains a visible and agile presence across Kosovo. We will always take all necessary actions to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people living in Kosovo. We do so impartially and in line with our UN mandate.

Since May, we have enhanced KFOR’s presence and posture. Only yesterday the North Atlantic Council authorised additional forces to address the current situation.

We will always continue to make sure that our Commander has the resources and flexibility necessary for KFOR to fulfil its mandate. We stand ready to make further adjustments to KFOR’s posture as required.

KFOR continues to coordinate closely with all relevant stakeholders in Belgrade and Pristina, as well as EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX), the OSCE, the UN Mission to Kosovo, and the diplomatic community.

We call on all parties to urgently de-escalate. We continue to urge Belgrade and Pristina to engage in the EU-facilitated dialogue, as the only way to resolve outstanding issues and reach solutions that respect the rights of all communities. This is key for lasting security in Kosovo and stability in the region.

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has increased our focus on the security environment in the Baltic Sea region,” said acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White. “Our AWACS can detect aircraft and missiles hundreds of kilometres away, making them a key early warning capability for NATO. I thank Lithuania for hosting the aircraft. This is an important contribution to our shared security.”

In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, NATO has boosted its air presence in the eastern part of the Alliance using fighter jets, surveillance planes and tankers. In the wake of Russian drone strikes near NATO territory, the United States last week deployed four additional F-16 fighter aircraft to Romania to enhance NATO’s air policing mission. Since February 2022, NATO AWACS have conducted hundreds of flights over Eastern Europe to monitor Russian warplanes.

The AWACS will start their reconnaissance flights over Alliance territory in the coming days. The mission is scheduled to last several weeks. The aircraft belong to a fleet of 14 NATO-owned surveillance aircraft based in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Around 150 military personnel will deploy to Šiauliai in support of the aircraft.

The NATO Secretary General will also participate in the inauguration of the Deep Tech Lab – Quantum (DTL-Q), NATO’s DIANA accelerator site.

Media advisory

29 September 12:15 (CEST)          Speech by the NATO Secretary General at the Copenhagen Quantum 2023 Conference

Media coverage

The Secretary General’s speech at the Copenhagen Quantum 2023 Conference, as well as his remarks at the DTL-Q’s inauguration, will be streamed live on the NATO website.

Transcripts of the Secretary General’s engagements, as well as photographs, will be available on the NATO website after the events.

For more information:

Contact the NATO Press Office

For more information about the events in Copenhagen, including media access, please contact Ms Astrid Striib: asd@fmn.dk

Follow us on Twitter (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress).

Mr Geoană and Mr Velásquez discussed common security challenges and areas for cooperation under the new NATO-Colombia partnership programme agreed in December 2021. The impact of climate change on security, maritime security, demining, military interoperability, and defence education are among the priorities for enhanced cooperation between NATO and Colombia.

Mr Geoană also commended Colombia for its work on building integrity and for its strong commitment to deepen its cooperation with NATO on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Colombia became a NATO partner in 2017, the first in Latin America.

On the first day, engaging with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Major General Huneiti, Admiral Bauer discussed the crucial role Jordan plays as a source of stability in the region and, relatedly, the importance of a strengthening military cooperation within the existing partnership. 

A very active Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) member since 1995, Jordan became an Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP) shortly after the 2014 Wales Summit, when NATO’s Defence and Related Security Capacity Building (DCB) Initiative was lunched. Jordan has since then been working side by side with NATO on an increasing number of areas, among which Counter-IED, Cyber Defence, Maritime, and Border Security. In May this year, the coastal city Aqaba hosted a three-day workshop to help identify Jordanian maritime and counter-terrorism requirements and ways for NATO to improve the efficiency and sustainability of Jordan’s counter-terrorism capacity.

Over the years, Partner country Jordan made many contributions to NATO missions and operations. “Our forces have served together side by side in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, over Libya, and Jordanian troops participate in the NATO Response Force”, said Admiral Bauer, extending NATO’s gratitude to Jordan for hosting the NATO Defence Capacity Building training activities for Iraq at the King Abdullah’s Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTC).  

On the second day of the visit, Admiral Bauer met with Commandant of the Royal Jordanian National Defence College, Brigadier General Azzam Al-Rawahneh. Discussions centered on the deteriorated security situation in NATO’s Southern neighbourhood, due to the multitude and complexity of challenges and threats faced – including smuggling, weapons trafficking, irregular immigration and energy security. The Admiral clarified that while there is increased focus on the Eastern flank, the South remains equally important in the context of NATO’s 360-degree approach to deterrence and defence.

In his remarks to assembled students and faculty members at the Defence College, the Admiral expanded on Jordan being a frontline for international security and a cornerstone of stability in the broader Middle East.

On energy security, Admiral Bauer outlined NATO’s commitment to ‘combatting climate change by improving energy efficiency, transitioning to clean resources and leveraging innovative next-generation clean technologies’. “As we adapt our Alliance to the ongoing energy transition, NATO strives to ensure military capability, effectiveness and interoperability”, he said. NATO’s efforts align with Jordan’s national security priorities, as recently outlined by the Military Representative for Jordan, Colonel Mohammad Hassan, at the second thematic NATO Military Committee meeting with Partners on Energy Security held in June.  “Cooperation with Partners is critical in order to support NATO’s ambition to develop more stable and reliable energy supplies, sources and alternatives”, noted the Chair.

Admiral Rob Bauer closed the visit by expressing gratitude for NATO-Jordan’s enduring friendship, with a strong message of unity against an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable geostrategic environment. “The current security environment highlights the significance of partnerships, which are crucial to protect the global commons and enhance our resilience”, he stated, “NATO Allies are committed to further strengthen our ties with partners that share the Alliance’s values and interest in upholding the rules-based international order. Jordan is, among them, a close friend and a highly valued Partner.”  

In his opening address, Tom Goffus, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Operations, said that: “a strong, vibrant, innovative Non-Commissioned Officer Corps is the hallmark and engine of successful, western, modern, democratic militaries. Since 2009, as part of the Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), NCO professional development teams have assisted partner nations enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of professional NCO corps through training and education.” He added: “in response to growing demand, we are introducing the NCO School Instructor Development Reference Curriculum, intending to establish, develop, or supplement professional development courses for instructors at NCO schools”.

Major General Slaven Zdilar, Commander of the Croatian Defence Academy, reaffirmed Croatia’s commitment to support NATO’s efforts towards NCO development in Allied and partner countries, and highlighted that professional NCOs are the backbone of modern and interoperable Allied militaries.

Multinational NCOs and experts on professional military education shared views on different topics, including the implementation of the instructors’ development guide, roles, responsibilities and career advancement for NCOs, and the appointment and responsibilities of Commandants of NCO Schools. The discussions drew from real-world experiences, including insights from Ukrainian NCOs, who offered invaluable lessons from the frontline.

For more information on the Instructor Development Reference Curriculum, see:  NATO – Topic: Non-Commissioned Officer School Instructor Development Reference Curriculum

There will be no media opportunity.

Photographs of the meeting will be available on the NATO website after the event.

Contact the NATO Press Office.

Follow us on Twitter (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress)

During his visit, the Deputy Secretary General highlighted NATO’s work on innovation and thanked Germany for its contributions to the Alliance. Mr Geoană met the First Mayor of Hamburg Dr Peter Tschentscher and participated in a roundtable discussion with start-ups at Hamburg Invest. Breakthroughs in disruptive technologies from Artificial Intelligence and quantum technologies, to biotech and human enhancement are rapidly changing the world. NATO is adapting to address the challenges and opportunities new technologies present to our security.

Mr Geoană also delivered a speech at the opening of the academic year at the University of Medicine and Technology Târgu Mureş – Medical Campus. He discussed how global pandemics like COVID-19 had underlined the importance of increasing our resilience. He also spoke about the expanded notion of security. The Deputy Secretary General highlighted the transformative power of new technologies and encouraged students and professors to stay ahead of the curve, to safeguarding democratic values and support the ethical use of the new technologies in their fields.