Category: NATO

Source: NATO

(As delivered)

Good morning.

Foreign Ministers will meet today and tomorrow to mark NATO’s 75th anniversary, and to prepare for our Summit in Washington in July.

NATO was founded on a single, solemn promise: an attack on one Ally is an attack on all. 

From that foundation, we have built the most powerful and successful Alliance in history. 
And over the past 75 years, NATO’s Open Door has helped to spread democracy and prosperity across Europe.
As we celebrate NATO’s achievements, we do not rest upon them. 

Europe now faces war on a scale we thought was resigned to history. 

In recent days, the Kremlin has launched new major attacks, striking Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. 
And Russia continues to press along the frontlines.

So we must stand firm in our support to Ukraine. 
And I welcome that Allies continue to make major deliveries of weapons, ammunition, and equipment.

But Ukraine has urgent needs.  
Any delay in providing support has consequences on the battlefield as we speak.

So we need to shift the dynamics of our support.

We must ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine for the long haul. 

So that we rely less on voluntary contributions and more on NATO commitments.

Less on short-term offers and more on multi-year pledges.

therefore Ministers will discuss how NATO could assume more responsibility for coordinating military equipment and training for Ukraine anchoring this within a robust NATO framework. 

We will also discuss a multi-year financial commitment to sustain our support.
This ministerial will set the stage for achieving consensus on these issues as we prepare for the Washington Summit.

NATO Allies provide 99 percent of all military support to Ukraine.

So doing more under NATO would make our efforts more efficient, and more effective.

Moscow needs to understand that they cannot achieve their goals on the battlefield and they cannot wait us out.

Tomorrow we will hold a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

With Minister Kuleba, we will address the current situation and Ukraine’s needs both now and for the future. 

We are transforming NATO’s comprehensive assistance package into a multi-year programme of assistance. 

We are helping Ukraine move closer to NATO, NATO standards on everything from procurement to logistics.

And we are supporting Ukraine’s reform efforts to bring Ukraine ever closer to the Alliance. 

Ukraine will become a member of NATO. 
It is a question of when, not if. 

Tomorrow, we will also meet with our Indo-Pacific partners: Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. 
Together with the European Union.

We know that our security is not regional – it is global.
The war in Ukraine illustrates this clearly.

Russia’s friends in Asia are vital for continuing its war of aggression.

China is propping up Russia’s war economy.
In return, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing.

North Korea and Iran are delivering substantial supplies of weapons and ammunition.

In return, Pyongyang and Tehran are receiving Russian technology and supplies that help them advance their missile and nuclear capabilities.

This has regional and global security consequences.

So like-minded nations around the world need to stand together. 
To defend a global order ruled by law, not by force.

Tomorrow we will discuss how best to work together towards this end. 

We also have much to gain from practical cooperation – including on technology, cyber, and hybrid threats.
As well as support to Ukraine.

All of this matters for European security.
And for Indo-Pacific security.
 
Countering rising global threats requires sustained spending.

A record number of Allies will meet NATO’s 2 percent of GDP spending target this year. 
And I look forward to further progress. 

At our ministerial, we will also discuss how to address instability in our southern neighbourhood. 
Including the continuing threat of terrorism.

We will also agree a new policy on Women, Peace and Security.
Because our societies are stronger and safer when we draw on the contributions of all our people.

And with that, I am happy to take some questions. 

Lorne Cook, Associated Press
Secretary General, I understand you’ve been working on an idea of perhaps more predictable longer term support for Ukraine that might involve the transfer of the Ukrainian contact group to NATO control, perhaps also some finances. Could you tell us a bit more about it and why it’s important, please.

NATO Secretary General
Well, I see that you have been briefed on the proposal, but I will not go into the details of the proposal. What I can say is that I welcome that Allies agree that we need to sustain our support to Ukraine, we need to make it more robust and therefore we are now discussing ways to institutionalize more of the support within a NATO framework to make it more predictable to make it more robust, because we strongly believe that support Ukraine should be less dependent on short term voluntary offers and more dependent on long term NATO commitments. By doing that, we will give Ukraine what they need. And that is long term, predictable, robust support. And that will also send a message to Moscow that they cannot wait those out. And the reality is that if you want this war to end, the sooner we can convince Moscow that they will not win on the battlefield. They cannot wait us out, the sooner we can then be able to reach a peace agreement where Russia realized that that they cannot win the war, but have to sit down and negotiate an agreement where Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation. So a stronger NATO role in coordinating and providing support is a way to end this war in a way where Ukraine provides. We already have a lot of coordination, 99% of the support to Ukraine comes from NATO allies and of course, I welcome that capability coalition’s the Ramstein format, many other multinational and bilateral initiatives, but there is a need to give this a more robust and institutional framework to ensure predictability and commitment for long haul.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah
Thank you. The next question is to Florian from ZDF

Florian Neuhann ZDF
Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Stoltenberg. That number we were briefed on is 100 billion. Can you say anything about this number, and especially if you’re talking about fresh and new money or just adding up what has been promised already by member states of NATO? And the second question, are you planning to abolish the Ramstein format and really include it into NATO?

NATO Secretary General
So first, what is obvious is that we need new and more money for Ukraine and we need it over many years. And the whole idea now discussing frameworks commitments and institutionalized framework for the support is to ensure more predictability and more confidence in that moment will come every month every year for the long haul. So again, I will not go into the details. I don’t, there will be no finalization at the meeting today and tomorrow, we will hopefully move forward towards consensus and then we will have an agreement in place by the summit. The reason why we do this is the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine. It is serious. We see Russia is pushing and we see how they try to win this war but just waiting us out. And then for we need to answer by sending a clear message of practical support, financial support, and an institutional framework that ensures that we are there for the long haul to be able to end the war.

So I’m absolutely certain that I agree that we need more money, we need new money. We need it for many years. What we are now discussing is exactly the framework to establish that. Whatever we do, of course, will be closely coordinated with all the other initiatives that NATO allies are part of. NATO as part of their Ramstein group. NATO allies are part of their own subgroup. 99% of the NATO support provided to the Ramstein group is provided by NATO allies. We meet here at the NATO Headquarters we discussed this issue both at the Rammstein format and headquarters with the discussed about NATO, the ministerial meetings, it’s very much the same people are not actually the people responsible for delivering the support today, it’s actually many of them working for NATO allies, all of them are working for NATO allies. And the general responsible for the whole logistics, then the support that goes to Poland to the hub in Poland and all the work in this problem that underpins the work. That’s General Cavoli and General Cavoli is the US commander in Europe, but General Cavoli is also the NATO commander in Europe. And of course, I think that General Cavoli can coordinate with General Cavoli. It’s the same man, the same people the same countries the same money from the same countries. So of course, NATO allies will be able to coordinate now we’re discussing how to have the best institutions, the best commitments, and the best framework to ensure efficiency, predictability, political oversight, and that we have the endurance needed to ensure that Ukraine prevails.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah
Thank you. The next question is the colleague from European Pravda.

European Pravda
Thanks so much. Mr. Secretary Generals, two quick questions. First, could you please prepare us on what’s going to be discussed at the NATO Korean Council and whether those things that you mentioned regarding Ukraine support long term commitments are going to be part of that? Second question. Ukrainian leadership has been claiming that Russia is preparing a major counter offensive to take place in May or June. So what is NATO’s assessment of that? Do you see any preparations any military build-up on the part of Russia to do that? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General
Well, we see a constant Russian military build-up, we see how they are receiving ammunition weapons from North Korea and Iran. A significant amount of weapons and ammunition. We see on Russia has been able to put the economy on a war footing, and we see how Russia Moscow is willing to pay a very high price in terms of men and material in marginal gains on the Ukrainian battlefield with little to no respect for human lives. So this is of course, the reason why the situation on the battle frontline is so difficult is so challenging. And that’s exactly the reason why we need to do more from NATO allies. Both the urgent need for more air defence for more artillery, but also the more long term institutionalized effort of establishing the frameworks the structures, moving away from short term announcements, short terms offers to long term real commitments, multi year commitments to ensure the predictability and the sustainability our support to address exactly what we have seen coming from Russia, military build-up over a long time.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah
Thank you very much. We’ll move over to New Zealand TV.

New Zealand TV
How important is it that the Indo Pacific partners continue to give to Ukraine as well? And how important is it that they’re here for these next two days?

NATO Secretary General
I welcome very much that our Indo Pacific partners take part in our foreign ministers meeting in Brussels today and tomorrow. I just met with the Foreign Minister of New Zealand. We had a very good discussion, and it reflects the fact that our security is not regional our security is global. What happens in Ukraine matters for Asia. The more successful Putin is in Ukraine, the more likely it is that we can see something similar happen in the South China Sea. And we see also how Russia’s friends in Asia are helping him supporting his war aggression against Ukraine, Iran and North Korea, key providers of weapons and ammunition to Russia. So this just highlights that security in Asia is intertwined with security in Europe and for the Asia and the Pacific is important for us.
I welcome the fact that I have now invited for the third time, the Heads of State and government from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea, our partners of the Asia Pacific to attend the summit in Washington in July. This reflects that we are actually doing more together. And I believe I announced the welcome that we are now discussing also flagship projects. How we could do more on cyber, on resilience, also in providing support to Ukraine and I commend New Zealand and other partners in the region for actually being major providers of non-lethal support to NATO’s comprehensive system package for Ukraine. So, yeah, we welcome them, it’s great to have such strong partners.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah
Thank you. We’ll take one final question from Alexandra.

Question
Hello, thank you. And will and how will hopefully Ukraine contact group be instilled in the NATO organism. And is it a form of a Trump proof measure? Does it indicate that NATO is concerned with the possibility of Trump presidency?

NATO Secretary General
He first of all, again, NATO is part of the contact group. The contact Group has done extremely important work has been key in delivering support, and NATO allies have delivered unprecedented level of military support to Ukraine, not least organized by the UDCG, the Ukraine defence contact group, the Ramstein format, and as I said we were able to coordinate with existing structures, because it’s very much the same people in charge of everything, here it is General Cavoli who is the US commander, but the same time also the NATO commander, so of course, this this will be coordinated. Then, then what was the next question?

Question
… Trump proof measure?

NATO Secretary General
Well, the reason why we discussed this is that we see the situation on the battlefield. We see how demanding and difficult the situation is in Ukraine. So therefore we welcome everything NATO allies have done. At the same time we see that we need to do more it’s; it’s not enough. And Ukrainians they need more support, but they also need more predictable and long term support. So it’s possible to plan to organize and launch offensives that then you need long term planning you need to know what you are going to have and what type of equipment and what kind of support and what kind of maintenance. And this requires stronger institutionalized framework to deliver a more robust and predictable support to Ukraine. So that’s the reason why we’re discussing this. It’s a reflection of the seriousness on the battlefield. Then I would like to say that of course we all believe it’s important, or I strongly believe it’s important that allies make decisions fast. And that includes, of course, United States, because the United States is not the only supporter for Ukraine. Actually, European Allies and Canada are providing roughly 50% of their military support to Ukraine. So this is really a shared effort by the United States and the European allies and Canada. But of course, United States is the biggest ally and is providing the most military support. And the fact that there has been no agreement in the US Congress on a supplemental or continued this support has consequences. That’s one of the reasons why the Ukrainian have to ration the number of artillery shells, why they have problems standing up against the Russian force with overwhelming military power because of they’re able to outgun them with more ammunition and more artillery. And the answer to that is to then make the decisions and not least in the US Congress. Any delay has real consequences on the battlefield. I met senators, members of the House of Representatives and they’re all assured me that there is a big majority in the US Congress for support. So the issue is now to turn that majority into a vote from decision. And I hope that’s going to happen as soon as possible. It also brings majority in the US public for continued support to Ukraine. So I expect the US now to make a decision because it’s in the US security interest to ensure that President Putin doesn’t prevail in Ukraine, not least because this will also encourage other authoritarian leaders, including Beijing to use military force and violate international law.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah
Thank you. There will be opportunities for more questions this afternoon. Thank you.

Source: NATO

For its 75th anniversary, NATO has launched a digital time capsule. The Alliance is collecting artefacts from 2024 to capture moments of the present and messages for the future.

Source: NATO

In 2024, NATO celebrates 75 years of collective defence.

Since its creation on 4 April 1949, the transatlantic Alliance has grown from 12 founding members to 32 member countries, all working together to keep our people safe. A community of Allies bound together by common values of democracy, individual liberty, human rights and the rule of law, NATO will celebrate its anniversary on 4 April at NATO Headquarters in Brussels and at the upcoming summit on 9-11 July in Washington, D.C., where its founding treaty was signed. 

Discover NATO’s past through the voices of those who witnessed historic moments first-hand. In podcast episodes, feature stories and a documentary, they share their unique perspectives on how NATO has evolved over more than seven decades – while maintaining its core mission of protecting its members from any threat. 

Stay tuned for the latest news and events, and follow #1NATO75Years on social media. 

Source: NATO

Welcome to the NATO Through Time podcast! This podcast dives deep into NATO’s history, reflecting on how the past influences the present – and future – of the longest-lasting alliance in history.

Source: NATO

From today, young people aged 18-35 from NATO member and partner countries are invited to register their interest in attending NATO’s annual Youth Summit on 13 May 2024. Aspiring delegates will also have the chance to enrol in the Youth Summit challenge to compete for a sponsored seat at the conference.

Source: NATO

On 27-29 March 2024, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, visited Latvia upon the invitation of the Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Leonīds Kalniņš. While in Riga, Admiral Bauer met with the President, Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, in order to discuss collective deterrence and defence and the implementation of the decisions taken at the Vilnius summit last year. Admiral Bauer also participated in public events to celebrate Latvia’s NATO 20 year-membership.

Source: NATO

The NATO-Ukraine Council met on Thursday (28 March 2024) following recent Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. Allies strongly condemned the escalation in Russian air strikes and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen Ukraine’s defences.

Source: NATO

Your Excellencies, Admirals, Generals, 
Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon.

I am proud to stand here with you, in front of this beautiful monument: a symbol of freedom for almost 90 years.

In the dark decades of Soviet occupation, this monument was a beacon of resilience and courage. 

And later, it became the place to celebrate the restoration of a sovereign, independent Latvia. 

Latvian independence was not just proclaimed. 

It was valiantly fought for. 

This monument portrays that perfectly, as it includes both the symbol of freedom and the warriors that fought for it. 

Freedom can never be taken for granted. 

And peace is never a given.

Latvians know far too well.

Three days ago, on this location, you commemorated the victims of the mass deportations of 25 March 1949. 

Just as your former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga told NATO leaders in Prague in 2002: Latvians have been tested in the fires of history and they know the meaning and the value of liberty. 

That is why you have demonstrated unwavering solidarity and support for Ukraine in its existential fight against Russian aggression. 

Latvia has been leading by example in providing support.

Because you remember the sacrifices you yourself made for the right to determine your own destiny. 

20 years ago, Latvia decided that its destiny was to be a part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 

The success story of your membership is told in this photo exhibition. 

Latvia understands the importance of defending the rules-based international order. 

The importance of being part of an Alliance. 

True solidarity. 

A gigantic band of brothers and sisters, more than one billion people. 

Defended by close to 3.5 million men and women in uniform. 

The strongest, most successful Alliance in the world. 

Not because of any aggressive display of strength.

But because of our ability to unite people and countries. 

Our ability to adapt to changing security circumstances. 

And our ability to protect not just our physical safety, but also the democratic values we all hold dear. 

NATO is a shield against aggression. 

And in this time of unprecedented violence and conflict, the importance of that shield cannot be overestimated. 

NATO has entered a new era of collective defence. 

And it is an era that we are ready for. 

We have been preparing for this, for years. 

After the illegal annexation of Crimea, NATO did a complete overhaul of its military strategies and defence planning. 

We have undergone unprecedented change, at an unprecedented speed. 

NATO and national defence plans are more interconnected than ever before. 

NATO is stronger and readier than it has ever been. 

That doesn’t mean that our work is done. 

There are still many steps to be taken, also to be readier for the future. 

To fulfil our sacred task to expect the unexpected.

That is exactly why NATO is conducting its largest military exercise in decades. 

With 90.000 troops from all 32 Allies, Steadfast Defender demonstrates two things to the world: 
–    NATO is ready and able to rapidly deploy its forces. 
–    and NATO is putting its new defence plans to the test. Learning. Growing stronger. 

NATO’s solidarity does not just exist on paper. 

Nowhere is that better exemplified than here. 

No other country within the Alliance has so many different Allied troops deployed to defend its freedom. 

And with the accession of Finland and now also Sweden, the already strong cooperation between Nordic and Baltic Allies will become even stronger. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

For 20 years, Latvia has contributed to NATO’s collective deterrence and defence.

You know that Article 5 of our founding treaty can only be effective if Article 3 (the ability to defend yourself) is firmly in place. 

You have increased your military capabilities and the resilience of Latvian society.

Collective deterrence and defence is truly a task for the collective.

In order to protect what we all hold dear: we need two things: 

courage and focus. 

In Kyiv last week, I saw both elements in abundance. 

Despite all the destruction, despite all the suffering, Ukraine is strong. 

And they deserve nothing less than our strongest support.  

This monument here in Riga shows that no matter how high the stakes… no matter how complicated the situation… 

Democracy will triumph over autocracy. 

Freedom will triumph over oppression. 

Light will triumph over darkness. 

Together, we will uphold NATO’s shield against aggression against any threat that comes our way. 

Thank you. 

Source: NATO

As part of celebrations for the fourth anniversary of North Macedonia’s accession to NATO, the Alliance held a Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Information Day in Skopje.

Source: NATO

On 28 March 2024 a delegation from the General Staff of the Algerian National People’s Army visited NATO HQ to brief the NATO Military Committee on “Algeria’s vision and contribution to the stability of the region.” The delegation was led by Major General Belkacem Hasnat, Head of Operations Department and Chairman of the Standing Committee for the Military Cooperation with NATO. General Hasnat was joined by four other delegates, including Algeria’s Military Representative to NATO, Colonel Azzedine Henane.