Category: Europe

“Russia’s aggression is not contained to Ukraine. China, Iran and North Korea’s destabilising actions have far-reaching implications. When aggressors are emboldened it threatens us all, no matter how large or small,” the Secretary General said. “There is strength in numbers and value in building on a strong foundation, which is why we must continue to invest in NATO. A transatlantic future is the only way to ensure our freedom and security,” he concluded.

The Forum was chaired by former UK Cabinet Secretary and National Security Advisor Lord Sedwill, and First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key. The event in London brings together senior leaders from the military, government, and academia to discuss a range of security challenges, this year highlighting the war against Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

Ambassadors met in the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) today (26 November 2024) to discuss the security situation in Ukraine following Russia’s launch of an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) last week. Senior Ukrainian military officials briefed the Council via video link.

During the meeting, NATO Allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. The attack, which targeted Dnipro, is seen as another attempt by Russia to terrorise the civilian population in Ukraine and intimidate those who support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression. As earlier noted by the NATO Spokesperson, Farah Dakhlallah, “deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO Allies from supporting Ukraine.”

The NATO-Ukraine Council provides a forum for consultation between Allies and Ukraine on security issues of common concern, including Russia’s war of aggression. The meeting was chaired by NATO’s acting Deputy Secretary General, Boris Ruge. The next meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council is due to take place during the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers that will be held on 3-4 December.

Mr Rutte welcomed the fact that Greece invests 3 percent of its GDP in defence saying it had “long made security a priority”. He also commended the country for its “highly skilled military and increasingly advanced capabilities” and its efforts to modernise them further.

The Secretary General thanked Greece for its support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia aggression. Just last month, Athens signed a bilateral security agreement with Kyiv and announced it will accelerate F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots and technicians “strengthening their hand in this brutal war”. “Our support for Ukraine has kept them in the fight, but we need to go further to change the trajectory of this conflict,” the Secretary General added.

Mr Rutte underlined that Russia’s use of North Korean weapons and troops, Iranian drones and Chinese dual-use goods contributed to an “increasingly dangerous” security environment and represented a “challenge to global peace and security”.

During his visit to Athens the Secretary General also met the Greek Minister of National Defence Nikolaos Dendias and Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis.

The Secretary General underlined the NPA’s crucial role in strengthening NATO’s defences, supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, and addressing global challenges to Euro-Atlantic security, including through cooperation with partners. 

Mr Rutte reiterated NATO’s commitment to strengthening deterrence and defence in a more dangerous and competitive world. “Allies are spending more on defence,” he said, adding that “we must make our deterrence and defence even stronger. The more we spend on defence, the more we reduce the risk of future conflict”. He urged lawmakers to support this investment, highlighting that “we have a duty to ensure we protect our nations, people and values, and security does not come for free”.

Rutte’s acting Deputy, Boris Ruge, was in Montreal for the meeting and answered questions from parliamentarians during their plenary session. He underscored the importance of continuing the support that NATO and Allies are providing to Ukraine, the urgency of increased defence spending as well as the vital role the members of the NPA play in terms of making the case for stronger deterrence and defence.

During his visit to Canada, Mr Ruge also ​participated in the 16th Annual Halifax International Security Forum, where he addressed the importance of maintaining a strong transatlantic bond and the urgency of ramping up defence industrial production. He held bilateral meetings with a range of interlocutors, notably the Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Members of the US Congress.

Commandants and Education Directors of the five main military defence education institutions, namely War and Staff Colleges, the Military Academy, the Naval Academy and the Aviation School, briefed their NATO counterparts on the progress made to date, including the launch of an ePortal project introducing ILIAS as Learning Management System (LMS) for online learning in all Tunisian professional military education institutions. 

DEEP eAcademy is preparing system administrators, instructors and content creators of the Tunisian military professional education institutions for the future integration of the ePortal into the Armed Forces’ educational programmes.  With continued NATO experts’ support in faculty and curriculum development Tunisia continues to modernise and professionalise its entire military educational system. 

Through its Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITTP), Tunisia is also enhancing its role as regional capacity-building hub and contributes to regional stability by including about 20 percent cadets from central African countries in their programmes and by deploying Tunisian experts on defence education faculty development to Mauritania.

The Secretary General praised Türkiye for its commitment to the Alliance’s collective security. He highlighted that Türkiye has the second-largest army in NATO and spends over 2% of GDP on defence.

Mr. Rutte also congratulated Türkiye for successfully concluding its command of NATO’s KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, stating that “your consistent contribution of troops is crucial in maintaining a safe and secure environment for all in Kosovo.” 

The Secretary General and President Erdogan addressed Russia’s war in Ukraine. Mr. Rutte commended Türkiye for its firm support of Ukraine’s defence industry with the ammunition, artillery and aid it needs, also by playing a key role in initiatives like the Black Sea Grain Deal and other diplomatic efforts. 

In his meetings with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, the Secretary General addressed a range of issues, including Türkiye’s contributions to NATO security, defence industrial cooperation, the situation in the Middle East, terrorism, and Allied support for Ukraine.

Mr. Rutte thanked Türkiye for the major role it plays in the fight against terrorism, including in NATO’s mission in Iraq. The Secretary General reiterated his solidarity with Türkiye and expressed his condolences regarding the terrorist attack on the facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI-TUSAS) in Ankara on 23 October. “We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms” said Mr. Rutte.

During his official stay in Ankara, Mr. Rutte also paid a visit to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a memorial site dedicated to honouring the legacy and contributions of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic.