Category: Intelligence

Speaking alongside Prime Minister Frederiksen at the Copenhagen Quantum Conference 2023, Mr Stoltenberg said: “NATO has always adapted to and adopted new technologies to keep our people safe”. He added: “with the rapid spread of disruptive technologies, we must adapt further and faster than ever before, including in the field of quantum…. We need to make sure these technologies work for us – not against us.” He further praised Denmark for being “a driving force behind NATO’s innovation agenda, and a leader in the field on quantum technologies in Europe.

The Secretary General confirmed that NATO will have developed a quantum strategy by the end of this year, to ensure the Alliance is “quantum-ready” and “able to integrate the right technologies into our capabilities and protect against adversarial use.”

Later in the day, the Secretary General opened the new NATO accelerator site “Deep Tech Lab – Quantum” together with the Danish Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen; the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Morten Bødskov; and the Minister of Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund. The Lab will help start-ups from across the Alliance commercialise quantum-enabled solutions, as part of NATO’s new Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).

DIANA consists of a network of test centers and accelerator sites across NATO countries, where innovators develop new technologies to solve pressing security challenges. The Deep Tech Lab – Quantum in Copenhagen is one of five pilot accelerator sites launched in 2023.

“But courage alone does not stop drones, heroism alone cannot intercept missiles. Ukraine needs capabilities, high quality, high quantity, and quickly,” Mr Stoltenberg said, adding that “there is no defence without industry.”

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion last year, many Allies have significantly depleted their stocks in order to support Ukraine. NATO is working through its Defence Production Action Plan to aggregate demand and increase interoperability. The NATO Support and Procurement Agency is overseeing a number of major initiatives, including framework contracts for €2.4 billion worth of key ammunition, including €1 billion of firm orders to cover capabilities such as 155 millimetre artillery, anti-tank guided missiles, and main battle tank ammunition.

The Secretary General praised the resourcefulness of the Ukrainian defence industry, saying: “from drones to de-mining, Ukraine has innovated at lightning speed”. He added that “the stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the stronger their position will be at any negotiating table. So while it may sound like a paradox, weapons for Ukraine are the way to peace”.

Major defence companies from across the Alliance attended the Forum, with participants from over 20 countries. NATO was represented by Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment Wendy Gilmour.
 

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.”