Category: NATO

NATO Allies strongly condemn the decisions by the leaders of the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to dangerously expand Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.

In addition to the DPRK’s already substantive support to Russia’s war effort, through the provision of millions of rounds of ammunitions and ballistic missiles, the thousands of combat troops deployed by the DPRK constitutes a dangerous expansion of its ongoing support for Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

The deepening military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK deeply impacts Euro-Atlantic security, with implications also for the Indo-Pacific.

Increasing military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, including 2270 (2016), 1718 (2006), and 1874 (2009). This is particularly egregious given Russia’s status as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council. We call on Russia to return to compliance with these resolutions and to uphold its international obligations.

Russia’s statement on 26 September asserting that the denuclearisation of the DPRK is “off the table” is unacceptable, as it undermines the global non-proliferation regime, directly contradicts relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and further exacerbates regional tensions. The Russian statement forms part of its wider effort to undermine the global non-proliferation regime and to dismantle UN sanctions.

We urge all countries not to provide any kind of assistance to Russia’s aggression, and condemn all those who are facilitating and thereby prolonging Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

NATO will continue to work with its partners, in particular in the Indo-Pacific, to promote peace and stability, and prevent Russia and those facilitating its war effort from undermining regional and global stability.

Allies continue to enhance NATO’s deterrence and defence against all threats and challenges, in all domains, and in multiple strategic directions across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Allies remain as resolute as ever in supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes for Ukraine to prevail. Allies and partners continue to step up vital political, military, financial, economic, and humanitarian assistance as Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defence as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Allies are determined to support Ukraine in building a force capable of defeating Russian aggression, in line with the pledge of long-term security assistance for Ukraine.

The visit began with high-level meetings with H.E. Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Lieutenant-General Salem bin Hamad bin Aqeel Al-Nabit and Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer. In the meetings they discussed NATO’s commitment to a strong partnership with the State of Qatar, as well as praise for Qatar’s enhanced commitment on military cooperation with NATO. Admiral Bauer stated: “Ever since Qatar joined the Istanbul Cooperation initiative in 2005, we have worked together to increase security and stability in this region and beyond. In this ever more complex security environment, cooperation between Partners is more important than ever.”
Lieutenant-General Al-Nabit emphasized the importance of Qatar’s partnership with NATO: “The partnership between the State of Qatar and NATO is unparalleled. We are experiencing close cooperation in the field of defence diplomacy, training, education and operation. Qatar is an active partner in multiple NATO programs. We intend to expand our cooperation to the benefit of Qatar, NATO, and the whole world.”

After an initial day focused on discussions with Qatari authorities and presentations from both the Qatar Armed forces and NATO, the subsequent days were devoted to visiting facilities dedicated to training these forces. These visits started with the 401 Integrated Training Center, a brand-new facility designed for special forces training, including a mock village, an embassy compound, free fall training, driving and different shooting ranges, and even an Airbus A300 dedicated to simulate hostage scenarios.

Other visits included the Military Police Camp, as well as the Al Zeem Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al Attiyah Air college, dedicated to education and training of all roles within the Air Force, including pilots, fighter controllers, air traffic controllers, and drone pilots for the Qatari Armed Forces. It also serves members from other nations who send their students to this state to the art education and training center. The NATO Military Representatives also visited the Brouq Training Center, with maritime intervention training capabilities, and, at last, the Joint Warfare Training Center, where the Military Committee learned about its role in both the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) and the Partnership Training and Education Centres (PTECs).

In his closing remarks, Admiral Bauerexpressed gratitude to the Qatari military authorities for their remarkable hospitality and the impressive capabilities they displayed: “Based on what we have seen this week, especially from your inspiring young leaders, both men and women, I can honestly say that the future, your future, is in safe hands. And combined with your world-class facilities, your commitment to education and training, and to working with others including NATO, I am confident that new milestones lie ahead in our cooperation with Qatar.”

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In this episode, General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, walks us through her distinguished military career. She served on a demining team during a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, led an engineering regiment during a combat mission in Afghanistan, and was the first woman to lead a NATO mission when she took command of the advisory and capacity-building mission in Iraq in 2019. She also reflects on Canada’s role in NATO, including its contributions to the Alliance’s forward presence in Latvia, and her place in history as the first woman to lead Canada’s military.

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

The meeting was an opportunity for European leaders to discuss a broad range of security challenges and the importance of working together to address them. This included exchanges not only on traditional threats and challenges but also on issues like economic security and critical dependencies. Mr. Rutte highlighted the importance of working together – not only across the European community but through NATO and its global partners as well. He noted the growing alignment between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, which are working together to support Russia’s war against Ukraine – a reality that has broader impacts. In exchange for this support, Rutte said, “Russia is delivering technology to North Korea” that will enable the DPRK to “threaten the US mainland, continental Europe and our Indo-Pacific partners”. “These are new, dangerous developments that we need to discuss together.”

In the margins of the meeting in Budapest, the Secretary General met with a number of other leaders including the host, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Albanian President Edi Rama, and others.

At the Washington Summit, leaders reiterated the importance of providing the necessary forces, capabilities, resources, and infrastructure for NATO’s collective defence plans. Such discussions are crucial to improve our ability to generate, train, and sustain troops across domains at higher readiness, to be able to defend every Ally.

Allies discussed the increasing demand for personnel in the new era of collective defence, shared national best practices, and discussed the way ahead. They will continue these discussions and elevate personnel and military workforce issues, as part of NATO’s political agenda, alongside financial and defence industry topics.

“Jordan is one of the strongest NATO partners and a key player in the region and beyond,” said Mr Colomina. “I was pleased to receive in-depth views by my counterparts on regional developments and welcomed the tireless diplomacy efforts by His Majesty King Abdallah II bin al-Hussein to prevent further escalation of the war in the Middle East,” he added. He also underlined the continued work to strengthen international and regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism including by exploring further synergies between NATO activities and the approach through the “Aqaba Process” launched by His Majesty King Abdallah II al-Hussein in 2015. The Special Representative assured his interlocutors that assistance on border security through the NATO Defence Capacity Building package remains a priority, emphasizing “it is important to respond to the security needs of our partners”.

Mr. Colomina also discussed the final preparations for the establishment of a NATO Liaison Office in Amman which is a pivotal element of an Action Plan approved by Allied leaders at the NATO Summit in Washington D.C., this past July, for a stronger, more strategic and result-oriented NATO approach towards our southern neighbourhood. He pointed out that this new office is “a key priority for Allies”, explaining that it will mark the next significant milestone in the NATO-Jordan strategic partnership, further strengthen political dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO and Jordan, and contribute to enhance NATO’s presence and visibility in the southern neighbourhood.

I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.

Through NATO, the US has 31 friends and Allies who help to advance US interests, multiply American power and keep Americans safe.

Together, NATO Allies represent half of the world’s economic might and half of the world’s military might.

We face a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China, as well the increasing

alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Working together through NATO helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies. 

President-elect Trump demonstrated strong U.S. leadership throughout his first term in office – a term that turned the tide on European defence spending, improved transatlantic burden sharing, and strengthened Alliance capabilities. 

When President-elect Trump takes office again on January 20, he will be welcomed by a stronger, larger, and more united Alliance. 

Two-thirds of Allies now spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence, and defence spending and production are on an onward trajectory across the Alliance.

We must continue these efforts in order to preserve peace and prosperity across North America and Europe. 

“Keeping our one billion people safe is NATO’s most sacred duty, and that is why we are ramping up our defence industrial capacity,” the Secretary General said, adding that “we need to go further and faster, for our own deterrence and to support Ukraine.”

The Secretary General underlined that Italy is “a staunch and reliable Ally, contributing in many ways to Euro-Atlantic security.” He highlighted Italy’s lead of NATO’s new battlegroup in Bulgaria, its contributions to NATO’s deployments in Hungary and Latvia, and the deployment of Italy’s jets to protect Allied airspace and ships to keep crucial seaways open. “Italy is once again leading our peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, helping to foster stability in the Western Balkans,” he added.

The Secretary General thanked Prime Minister Meloni “for being such a strong supporter of Ukraine.” He underscored that Allies and partners “will continue to stand by Ukraine, because Ukraine’s fight is our fight,” and welcomed Italy’s strong support for the action plan adopted at the Washington Summit for a stronger, more strategic and results-oriented approach towards NATO’s southern neighbourhood.

During his visit, Secretary General Rutte also visited the Italian facilities of the defence manufacturing group Rheinmetall. 

The Secretary General praised Chancellor Scholz’s “personal leadership and commitment” to investing more in defence. “Germany now invests 2 percent of its GDP in defence for the first time in three decades. This is important for Germany and for NATO,” he said.
 
The Secretary General highlighted Germany’s contributions to NATO, including its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance where it is stationing a full brigade in Lithuania. Mr Rutte welcomed the opening of Germany’s new naval headquarters in Rostock, which will help to protect key trade and supply routes, and critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
 
Mr Rutte also thanked Germany for being “the biggest European contributor of military aid” to Ukraine, underlining that Germany’s support “saves lives on the battlefield every day.” He also warned of more frequent Russian hybrid attacks against NATO Allies, saying “the shifting frontline in this war is no longer solely within Ukraine.”  Russia is interfering directly in Allies’ democracies, sabotaging industry and committing violence. “All of this to weaken us and to sow divisions, but NATO stands ready to deter and defend against these threats,” he said.
 
On Monday, the Secretary General also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, and Chairman of the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag Marcus Faber.