Category: Intelligence

“Surveillance and control aircraft are crucial for NATO’s collective defence and I welcome Allies’ commitment to investing in high-end capabilities,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “By pooling resources, Allies can buy and operate major assets collectively that would be too expensive for individual countries to purchase. This investment in state-of-the-art technology shows the strength of transatlantic defence cooperation as we continue to adapt to a more unstable world”.
 
The E-7 Wedgetail is an advanced early warning and control aircraft that provides situational awareness and command and control functions. Equipped with a powerful radar, the aircraft can detect hostile aircraft, missiles and ships at great distances and can direct NATO fighter jets to their targets. The United States, the United Kingdom and Türkiye also either fly the Wedgetail or plan to operate it. It is based on a militarised version of the 737 jetliner. 

NATO has operated a fleet of E-3A Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft since the 1980s. Based at Geilenkirchen airbase in Germany, the AWACS have flown in every major NATO operation, including the fight against ISIS as well as on NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The E-7 is expected to have its main base at Geilenkirchen and could operate from several forward locations across Europe. The Wedgetail will be part of the Alliance’s future surveillance and control project which will field NATO’s next generation of surveillance systems from the mid-2030s.

The course is a part of the NATO 2030 agenda to support Allies’ commitment to resilience. It is delivered through enhanced engagement, training and education for NATO Resilience Civil Experts. The NATO Civil Experts pool is comprised of nearly 500 subject-matter experts with in-depth knowledge on matters related to NATO’s seven Baseline Requirements for resilience and provides a unique capability for Allies and partners to access.

The course helps prepare NATO Civil Experts in providing consultations for Allied nations, in implementing the Alliance Resilience Objectives that were endorsed at the Vilnius Summit. These experts also provide support to NATO partner nations in their resilience building efforts.

The Secretary General stressed that the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines last year and the recent damage to the Balticconnector pipeline and cables show that infrastructure is vulnerable, and that threats are real and developing.

Since these incidents, NATO has stepped up air and naval patrols and increased presence in the Baltic and North Seas. At the Vilnius Summit in July, Allies agreed to establish a new centre on critical undersea infrastructure at NATO’s Maritime Command in the United Kingdom. NATO and the European Union have also established a task force on the resilience of critical infrastructure. “Critical infrastructure is important, and it’s an area where we once again see the relevance and importance of cooperation between the NATO and the European Union,” said the Secretary General.

On the situation in Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg highlighted that intense fighting continues. “The situation on the battlefield is difficult. And that just makes it even more important that we sustain and step up our support for Ukraine because we cannot allow President Putin to win,” said the Secretary General. “Ukraine must prevail as a sovereign independent nation in Europe and it’s in our interest to support Ukraine,” he said.

In his acceptance speech Mr Stoltenberg stressed the importance of transatlantic relations and how a strong transatlantic bond had made him feel safe growing up as a young man in Norway. He stressed that both sides of the Atlantic have to preserve what unites them and invest in the relationship. “I do not believe in America alone. I do not believe in Europe alone. I believe in America and Europe together,” he said.

The Secretary General stressed that Germany’s new Defence Policy Guidelines demonstrate its commitment to increased defence spending. “We need a strong Bundeswehr, which is ready to fight at the heart of the Alliance,” he said, welcoming Germany’s clear commitment to invest 2 percent of GDP on defence by next year. “This reflects Germany’s responsibility and Germany’s leadership,” he added. The Secretary General also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 9 November. During his visit to Berlin Mr Stoltenberg will receive the American Academy of Berlin’s 2023 Henry A. Kissinger Prize for his contribution to transatlantic relations.

“Bulgaria is a highly-valued NATO Ally, playing a critical role in our security in the Black Sea area, as well as in the Western Balkans and beyond,” the Deputy Secretary General said. He also welcomed Bulgaria’s commitment to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defence in the coming years. “This means more combat aircraft, patrol ships and armoured vehicles, and it will make Bulgaria more secure and NATO stronger,” he added.

Mr Geoană highlighted NATO’s commitment to security in the Black Sea and steadfast support to Ukraine. “We have seen a surge of Russian attacks in the Black Sea in the recent months, including on civilian shipping lanes. Russia’s dangerous and escalatory actions pose serious risks to the stability of the region. So, NATO and Allies have stepped up surveillance and reconnaissance in the Black Sea, including with maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS surveillance planes, and drones,” he said. ‘I strongly welcome that Bulgaria is working together with Romania and Türkiye to counter the threat of floating mines in the Black Sea. This is an important contribution in the broader effort toward restoring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea,” he said.

Mr Geoană travelled to Bulgaria together with the Permanent Representatives to the North Atlantic Council. He met the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Nikolai Denkov, and other Bulgarian officials, including the Minister of Defence, Todor Tagarev, and the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov. He also met Allied personnel from NATO’s multinational battlegroup.