Category: Intelligence

How is Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty triggered, and what happens once it’s activated? How did the 9/11 terrorist attacks impact both the United States and its NATO Allies, and why did NATO respond the way it did?
What was the significance of NATO’s operations in Afghanistan and how did they change the Alliance?

In this episode, former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson of Port Ellen shares his memories of 11 September 2001, and the historic months and years that followed, including the declaration of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and beginning of NATO operations in Afghanistan. He also discusses the difference between Allies’ involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, the optimism for NATO-Russia relations in the early 2000s, and advice he would give to the incoming Secretary General.

The podcast is available on YouTube, and on all major podcast platforms, including:

During his tenure as the first NATO Deputy Secretary General from Central and Eastern Europe, Mr Geoană made numerous contributions to NATO. As the Alliance’s “innovation champion” and Chair of NATO’s Innovation Board, he contributed to the creation of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF). He was also instrumental in deepening NATO’s partnerships, “helping to take our cooperation with the EU to unprecedented levels, and enhancing our work with other partners around the world,” said the Secretary General at the medal ceremony.

The Secretary General thanked Mr Geoană for being “a leading advocate for NATO, engaging – and connecting – with audiences from all walks of life, promoting our shared values and explaining how we defend them every day.”

Mr Geoană expressed his gratitude to NATO staff: “I want to thank you for what you represent. I want to thank you for the privilege of working and helping me in everything we did.” Reflecting on his time in office, Mr Geoană said “these five years, I can say have been probably the most transformative years in the 75 year history of our great Alliance.” He concluded with words of encouragement, advising the staff to: “continue to believe in this organization, continue to believe in what we represent, what we stand for.”

Mr Geoană, a former foreign minister for Romania, became NATO Deputy Secretary General in October 2019.

Technological potential, commercial viability, relevance to end-users and investment maturity were among the criteria taken into consideration during the selection process. In the next phase of development, the start-ups will receive additional funding of up to 300,000 euros and assistance to adapt their ideas for commercial use. 

“We’re proud to announce the ten innovative companies moving into Phase II,” said Professor Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA. “To solve complex security and resilience problems, we need an ecosystem of creative, collaborative innovators willing to bring their talent and expertise to bear. These ten innovators, and indeed all of our first cohort, are paving the way for a strong pipeline of innovation for Allied nations to adopt.”

The ten companies, from seven NATO countries, were selected from the 44 start-ups chosen to join DIANA’s accelerator programme in November 2023. During the first phase, the start-ups benefited from world-class training and expert advice to develop their technologies and adapt them to defence and security requirements. Each company also received a grant of 100,000 euros to help cover expenses, such as salaries, rent and equipment. 

DIANA launched five new challenges in July 2024. The successful innovators will be selected from more than 2,600 applications. They will join the accelerator’s programme in January 2025.

Further information is available on LinkedIn and on the DIANA website: diana.nato.int.

On Sunday 8th September, Admiral Bauer visited the Five Hills Peace Support Operations Training Center (PSOTC), where he visited the field training area. For over a decade, the Mongolian Five Hills Peace Support Operations Training Centre has been recognised as part of the network of Partnership Training and Education Centres. The visit allowed Admiral Bauer to observe the lessons learnt through Mongolia’s strong commitment to global stability and the valuable lessons gained through experience in NATO’s international missions.

On Monday 9th September, Admiral Bauer was welcomed by a military guard of honour upon visiting the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces. Admiral Bauer met with Chief of the General Staff Major General Ganbyamba Sunrev to discuss the ongoing modernisation of the Mongolian Armed Forces.  Admiral Bauer then had the opportunity to meet with Mongolian troops who have served in NATO-led peacekeeping operations and missions. Mongolia contributed forces to NATO missions for over 16 years. First in Kosovo (KFOR) and later in Afghanistan (ISAF and later Resolute Support Mission).

This was followed by a visit to the Ministry of Defence, where Admiral Bauer met with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General Gankhuyag.D. Later that day, Admiral Bauer also met with the Secretary of the National Security Council, Mr Byambajargal. A at the Government Palace. In the meetings, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee underscored the value of military cooperation in a world where security challenges are not regional, but global. Cooperation with NATO Partners is always based on mutual respect and benefit and is tailored to the needs and requests of the Partner.

On 10th September, Admiral Bauer met with representatives from Allied embassies located in Mongolia. Here he outlined the value of combining civilian and military diplomacy. This ensures a more holistic view of international partnerships. To conclude the visit, Admiral Bauer visited the statue of Chinggis Khaan, a memorial dedicated to Mongolia’s rich history and military tradition.

NATO and Mongolia have been engaged in dialogue and cooperation since 2005. Since March 2012, work has been taken forward through an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme. In 2024, Mongolia transitioned to its first Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO. This includes cooperation on a range of issues including the Women, Peace and Security agenda, climate change and security, emergency management, human security, and cyber defence. In October 2024, NATO and Mongolia will hold military staff talks at the NATO headquarters.

Admiral Bauer was received by a military guard of honour in the Hague, where he was welcomed by Deputy Chief of Defence Vice-Admiral Boudewijn Boots. In the meeting with Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Admiral Bauer discussed the importance of continuing and ramping up support to Ukraine while at the same time ramping up NATO’s own deterrence and defence. 

In the meeting with the Standing Committee for Defence, Admiral Bauer discussed the new era of NATO collective defence, the whole of society approach to security, and the importance of support to Ukraine. 

The meeting with the Minister of Defence, Secretary for Defence, and Chief of Defence, focused on the integration of NATO and national defence plans. They discussed the new defence white paper that was published on 5 September. Admiral Bauer: “This paper clearly sets out a path for the Netherlands Armed Forces to meet the NATO capability targets. It will help the armed forces become even stronger, and it will bring them closer to their Allies. Now, it is crucial that this plan is fully executed.” 

Mr Stoltenberg praised Norway’s significant role in the Alliance, including its contributions to NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Lithuania, NATO’s air-policing missions, and Norway’s increased defence spending. “Norway will reach, and actually exceed, the 2% NATO guideline on defence spending and according to the long-term plan for defence, Norway will further increase significantly defence spending over the coming years,” he said.

The Secretary General also welcomed Norway’s long-term commitment to Ukraine, indicating that “Norway has provided advanced air defence, F-16 fighters and other cutting-edge capabilities”. He called on all Allies “to continue their vital support, especially in this difficult phase”, highlighting that the quickest way to end the war is to provide weapons to Ukraine. “President Putin must realise that he cannot win on the battlefield but must accept a just and lasting peace where Ukraine prevails as a sovereign and independent nation,” he said. In addition, the Secretary General called on China to stop supporting Russia’s illegal war, saying that “China cannot continue to fuel the largest military conflict in Europe without this impacting Beijing’s interests and reputation.”

At the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on 28 August 2024, Allies strongly condemned Russia’s indiscriminate strikes and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen Ukraine’s defences. “Ukraine has the right to defend itself. And according to international law, this right does not end at the border,” said the Secretary General. 

During his visit to Norway, the Secretary General also met with King Harald V in Oslo on Friday, and participated in an event organized by the Norwegian Atlantic Committee at the Oslo City Hall on Thursday (5 September 2024).