Category: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Secretary General Rutte praised Poland for its leadership within the Alliance, including its strong support to Ukraine and record-high defence spending, set to reach 4.7% of GDP this year. “Poland’s investment in defence is an example to all Allies. Not only do you top the NATO charts, you plan to spend even more,” he said. 
 
In his keynote speech, the Secretary General underlined the strength of the transatlantic bond and laid out NATO’s path to the upcoming Summit in The Hague.
 
“When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to NATO,” he said, stressing that it is not possible to imagine the defence of Europe without the Alliance.

As Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on and its military cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea intensifies, Mr Rutte warned that President Putin “has not given up on his ambition to reshape the global security order.” He underlined that a strong transatlantic Alliance remains the foundation of European security and that stronger European Allies are a unique strategic asset to the United States – allowing America, he said, to “promote peace through strength on the global stage.”

Secretary General Rutte reiterated his confidence in the United States’ continued commitment to NATO and Article 5. “Listen to President Trump, who has repeatedly stated his commitment to a strong NATO. Listen to the strong bipartisan support in the US Congress,” he said. “And listen to the American people,” three-quarters of whom support NATO according to a recent Gallup poll.

Mr Rutte also emphasised that the US commitment to NATO comes with a clear expectation: that European Allies and Canada take on greater responsibility for our shared security.

Looking ahead to the NATO Summit in The Hague, the Secretary General said the Alliance would “begin a new chapter for our transatlantic Alliance. Where we build a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO, to face a more dangerous world.”

Ms. Shekerinska emphasised the need for Europe to boost defence spending and ramp up defence production, noting that a stronger European defence will also contribute to a stronger Alliance. Recognising that NATO and the EU are natural and indispensable partners, she stressed that efforts directed toward the European defence industry and capability development need to be complementary, coherent and interoperable with NATO, and involve non-EU Allies as much as possible.

The Deputy General Secretary also highlighted the decisive role that NATO and the EU have played in helping Ukraine defend itself. She underscored the importance of further strengthening Ukraine both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

Ms. Shekerinska underlined the importance of continued NATO-EU exchanges to foster transparency on the issues of clear common interest and to explore further avenues of cooperation. She welcomed the White Paper for European Defence, and looked forward to working in “a truly collaborative way” during its implementation.

No media opportunity is foreseen.
Photographs will be available on the NATO website after the event.

More information
For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office
Follow us on X: @NATO, @SecGenNATO and @NATOPress

There will be no media opportunity.

For more information:

For general queries: Contact the NATO Press Office

Follow us on X: @NATO, @SecGenNATO and @NATOPress

The two-day programme for the board included a series of briefings designed to deepen their understanding of NATO’s mission and equip them with essential tools for their role. As part of the visit, the young leaders met the NATO Secretary General, and discussed their proposed contributions in shaping NATO’s engagement with a wide range of youth communities. The Secretary General thanked the young leaders for their interest in the Alliance and wished them luck in their upcoming work on brainstorming and developing ideas on furthering NATO’s engagement with youth.

The board is comprised of ten members, selected from across the Alliance and partner countries for their expertise and their impactful work in civil society: Sena Chang, Daan Cornelissen, Michael Dokas, Alexander Iancu, Marek Janiga, Max Klymenko, Imane Lakbachi, Marcelina Maciag, Amanda Round, and Alice Vandenberghe.

The Youth Advisory Board is part of NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division’s efforts to reach youth perspectives from across NATO member and partner countries. The board members will engage in a 10-month programme focusing on engaging with NATO stakeholders, shaping NATO’s public diplomacy initiatives and contributing to key events such as the 2025 NATO Youth Summit and the annual NATO Public Forum. They will provide insights and recommendations to enhance NATO’s long-term approach towards youth outreach and involvement while also leading youth-focused projects within their communities.

Ms. Shekerinska hailed initiatives at the European and national levels to boost defence spending, capabilities and readiness, while noting that the transatlantic relationship remains the cornerstone of European security. In her remarks to MEPs, she stressed the need for a stronger European pillar within a strong NATO.

The Deputy Secretary General emphasised the importance of continuing to strengthen NATO-EU cooperation. She underscored that NATO and the EU are natural and indispensable partners, and that the EU can use its unique economic leverage to boost defence production, innovation, and military mobility in line with NATO’s military plans, capabilities, and standards. In this regard she also pointed to the need to involve non-EU allies as much as possible in the EU’s initiatives on defence. Ms. Shekerinska welcomed the ReArm Europe plan, as well as European support for Ukraine.  

In a security context where Europe faces instability and threats from many directions, the Deputy Secretary General highlighted that “keeping our people safe is our most sacred duty.”

Over 100 participants – including from partner countries and international organisations – shared views on the challenges faced by the military aviation of Allied and partner countries, and on the prospects of enhanced resilience, interoperability and civil-military cooperation.

In the margins of the meeting, a NATO Industry Seminar brought together senior civil and military officials and industry leaders from the region, to better understand the strategic importance of aviation and space capabilities, share lessons learned, and enhance the safe development of cutting-edge commercial innovation. NATO officials also engaged with government officials and representatives of local universities to discuss NATO’s relations with New Zealand.

In the current context of increasing geopolitical competition, NATO and New Zealand have been strengthening their relations to address shared security challenges and to contribute to defending international law. They also cooperate as part of NATO’s broader relations with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. New Zealand has made valuable contributions to NATO-led operations and missions for many years, and in support to Ukraine – including through the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) – following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“The Euro-Atlantic region and the Indo-Pacific region are closely interlinked; we have had historic links for decades, and currently we face many of the same security challenges, and share the same values and the same strong interest in protecting international law,” NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment, Taja Jaakkola highlighted. “Let me be clear: this is not about NATO going to the region. NATO is and will remain a regional alliance whose aim is to protect its own region – North America and Europe; but we need to have a global outlook, and we see our partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region as key in the current context; we have had closer dialogue in the last three NATO Summits with the leaders of Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand; this dialogue is very important to better understand the challenges we face in our respective regions, and share best practices about how we deal with them,” she underscored.

“NATO is a longstanding and likeminded security partner for New Zealand; our enduring partnership is key to providing the doctrine, tactics, training and procedures that underpin the New Zealand Defence Force’s interoperability with key partners; the finalisation last year of the New Zealand NATO Individually Tailored Partnership Programme demonstrates our intent to continue partnering with the Alliance on shared security challenges, including emerging disruptive technologies, cyber defence, industrial cooperation and climate change,” said New Zealand’s Associate Minister of Defence, Chris Penk. “With the launch last year of the ‘New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy’ New Zealand aims to have an aviation regulatory environment that supports innovation while maintaining safety and protecting our national interests, including national security and New Zealand’s foreign policy interests; this strategy will support the growth and development of New Zealand’s space and advanced aviation sectors, with a view to New Zealand becoming an even greater hub of space and aviation activity,” he added.

The Aviation Committee advises the North Atlantic Council on a “Total System Approach to Aviation (TSAA)” in support of NATO’s core tasks (collective deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security). It contributes to making Allied air activities more effective and to mitigate hazards, safety and security risks to air activities. It is NATO’s primary forum for the engagement of international aviation organisations and institutions at the policy and technical levels.

Since last year’s meeting of IBAN with the competent national audit bodies of the NATO Nations, we have noticed an interest, from both parties, in strengthening mutual cooperation and giving it a clear framework. The IBAN Chair was pleased to accept the invitation of the President, Mr Miloslav Kala, to visit the SAO for the purpose of signing a memorandum. As in previous cases, its main goal is, in accordance with a strategic goal of IBAN, the sharing of experience in professional practices and the exchange of expertise. The document does not commit to any specific action, but lists the areas in which the parties would like to promote mutual cooperation, such as establishing opportunities for professional traineeships, peer reviews and joint research projects, and facilitating the exchange of experiences, best practices, and professional documentation, among other initiatives. Both IBAN and the SAO are committed to intensify their mutual support in carrying out their external audit functions in accordance with the standards and principles promulgated by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

The formalisation of mutual cooperation was offered to all Supreme Audit Institutions of the NATO Nations last year, and if they intend to share their experience and good practices, they can therefore participate to the same extent.

The damage to the cables, which is being investigated by Finnish authorities, is one of a number of recent incidents in the Baltic Sea under scrutiny as possible sabotage. Allies expressed full solidarity with Estonia and Finland in the wake of the recent incident. In order to maintain vigilance, increase situational awareness, and deter future incidents, NATO is enhancing its military presence in the Baltic Sea. Allies are also considering other measures to address potential threats to critical undersea infrastructure, including with the support of NATO’s Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure that was established in May of this year.