Category: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The event is by invitation only and is organized by the German Marshall Fund (GMF).

Media Advisory

16:00 (CEST) – “Reflections on a Challenging Decade: A Farewell Conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg”.

Media coverage

The Secretary General’s speech will be streamed live on the NATO website, EBU News Exchange and YouTube.

A transcript of the Secretary General’s speech, as well as pictures, will be available on the NATO website.

For more information:

Contact the NATO Press Office

For more information on the event, please check the event’s website.

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The visit was part of the annual review of activities conducted within the framework of NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP) for the Republic of Moldova. The visiting delegation, the Manager of NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme, Pavel Anastasov, and subject matter experts across NATO took stock of the achievements made, set out the priorities for the rest of the year and planned activities for 2025. “We have made significant progress in helping instructors from Moldova improve their skills. We look forward to continue working closely with them as they continue their efforts to adopt NATO best practices in the domain of defence education and training,” said Mr Anastasov. 

Colonel Petru Mihalcea, Vice-rector for education at the Moldovan Military Academy, underlined the importance of regular exchanges with NATO and highlighted the added value of NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme for Moldova. “Since 2009, with the help of NATO and the DEEP programme we have been able to professionalise our officer and non-commissioning officer courses at our institution. We look forward to further enhancing our cooperation with NATO in this important area,” he pointed out.
Command Sergeant Major Andrei Cojocaru, National Army Command Senior Enlisted Leader added: “Together with DEEP experts we were able to develop non-commissioning officer courses in line with NATO’s “Non-Commissioning Officer Professional Military Education Reference Curricula”.

During the visit, NATO-EU cooperation in support of Moldova’s Military Academy was also addressed, and a plan for joint cooperation with the NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme in support of Republic of Moldova was agreed. 

During the first session, Allied military leaders discussed the establishment of the new NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine command.
This will allow NATO to oversee training of Ukrainian armed forces at training facilities in Allied countries, support Ukraine through the planning and coordination of donations; manage transfer and repair of equipment and provide support to the long-term development of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Admiral Bauer, Chair of the Military Committee stated: “Every day, we grow more and more interoperable. Until one day, we will stand side by side under the NATO banner. Ukraine deserves our unrelenting support. Not only because of who they are as a people. But also because of who we are, as NATO.”

In the second session, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli, updated the Chiefs of Defence on the progress made in implementing NATO’s new defence plans, which are designed to strengthen NATO’s Warfighting capabilities and enhance its ability to deter and, if needed, defend against any potential threats. Over the past year, NATO put 500,000 troops on high readiness, established the Allied Reaction Force, adapted the command and control structure and ramped up the development and expansion of Allies’ military capabilities. In the coming year, more steps will be taken to increase the overall readiness of the Alliance.

The third session focused on warfighting transformation and was led by General Philippe Lavigne, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT). Among other topics, the Chiefs of Defence discussed the launch of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC). This will focus on developing the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ ability to defend, deter, and operate seamlessly with NATO forces, increasing Ukraine’s interoperability with NATO. “It is a step we are taking today for a better and lasting peaceful future together”, General Lavigne stated.  Allied Chiefs of Defence also discussed the new capability targets under the NATO Defence Planning Process. Now that NATO and national defence plans are integrated on an unparalleled level, it is crucial that each Ally develops or expands the capabilities they have pledged to the Alliance.  

The Military Committee meets in Chiefs of Defence Session twice a year at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, and once a year a Conference is held by an Allied member state. The Military Committee convenes to discuss NATO operations, missions and activities and to provide the North Atlantic Council with unfettered, consensus-based military advice on how the Alliance can best address global security challenges. On a day-to-day basis, its work is carried out by the permanent Military Representatives at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

Major General Remigijus Baltrenas has been serving for over three decades in the Lithuanian Armed Forces with an extensive expertise in the intelligence community. He is currently the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and Vice Chief of Defence. He also brings a tremendous NATO experience from several deployments and postings throughout his distinguished career. Major General Remigijus Baltrenas has been the Lithuanian Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee from 2020 to 2023.

Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak expressed his heartfelt congratulations toMajor General Remigijus Baltrenas. “I am certain that he will be an excellent leader of the International Military Staff. His NATO experience, background and skills will benefit the position. I wish him all the best for this next chapter and every success”.

Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the Military Committee: “I am extremely pleased that Major General Remigijus Baltrenas has been elected to be the next Director General of the International Military Staff. I am highly confident in his abilities. He will surely provide strong leadership to the International Military Staff in his tasks to support to the Military Committee”.

Major General Remigijus Baltrenas first reaction to the election was: “I am extremely honoured and delighted to be elected and trusted by all NATO CHODs to lead the International Military Staff”. 

The Director General is the head the International Military Staff (IMS). The IMS consists of a staff of approximately 500 military and civilian personnel from NATO member countries, working at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The DGIMS is responsible to the Military Committee for the efficient and effective functioning of the IMS. She/he is empowered to act on behalf of the Military Committee on routine matters, and, in case of urgency, to take executive action on its behalf within its established policies.

In his opening speech, Admiral Rob Bauer, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, reflected on the Alliance’s key priorities, “The NATO Military Authorities have two herculean tasks that they need to undertake simultaneously. While continuing and ramping up our support to Ukraine, we must also bolster our own deterrence and defence.”

Looking back to the 2023 Military Committee Conference, Admiral Bauer highlighted the progress made on the implementation and executability of the DDA Family of Plans, “When we held this committee conference in Oslo last year, NATO’s new defence plans, the so called DDA Family of Plans, had just been approved. NATO now has 500,000 troops on high readiness, we established the Allied Reaction Force. We are adapting our Command and Control structure and Allies are rapidly developing and expanding their capabilities.”

Petr Pavel, the President of the Czech Republic, and former Chair of the Military Committee (2012-2015) stated that the 25th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s membership in NATO is a very important milestone in the development of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. “It is an honour for Czech Republic to host for the first time a Military Committee Conference as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of joining NATO, and actually in the same year when the Alliance celebrates 75 years of its existence.”

“NATO proved to be truly the most successful and long-lasting military alliance in the world, which does not mean that it is perfect. Being a human creation, it is imperfect as we are, and we have to constantly work on improving it. However, it proved to be very successful in taking on board countries like the Czech Republic and many others, allowing them to become members of the zone of stability, security, and prosperity. This is the experience that I made in my total eight years in the NATO structures”, said the President of the Czech Republic.

In turn, Lieutenant General Karel Řehka, Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, emphasised the urgency of continued Allied support to Ukraine. “For Ukraine, the ongoing Russian aggression is a war for survival. But it is also a fight for the principles of democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity that NATO exists to defend”.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces outlined how the security environment and the growing Russian threat generated a positive impact on national security and defence. “We have revised our national strategies and defence plans to better address the threats. We have elaborated our national Vision of Future Warfare beyond 2040 and accelerated the modernization of our armed forces, recognizing the need for state-of-the-art capabilities (…). Last, but not least, we have made the crucial decision to spend at least 2% of our GDP on defence.”

At 17h45 there will be a joint press conference by Admiral Bauer and Lieutenant General Karel Řehka. The joint press conference will be livestreamed on the NATO website.

The Acting Deputy Secretary General welcomed Montenegro’s contributions to NATO’s long-standing efforts in the Western Balkans. These include its role in the Defence Capacity Building package for Bosnia and Herzegovina; the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo; and the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team in Pristina. Amb. Ruge also highlighted the impact of disinformation and NATO´s ongoing efforts to counter it.

Amb. Ruge underscored that Montenegro’s accession to NATO in 2017 has strengthened stability in the Western Balkans. This benefits not only the people of Montenegro but also the region and the entire Alliance, and has been a crucial step in moving the country towards full European and Euro-Atlantic integration. 

Boris Ruge was appointed Acting Deputy Secretary General on 10 September 2024, following the departure of Mircea Geoană.

The gathering, which was chaired by Acting Deputy Secretary General Boris Ruge, reaffirmed that Russia remains the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security. Participants stressed that Russia seeks to fundamentally reconfigure the Euro-Atlantic security architecture and that the threat posed by Russia will persist into the long term. 

“NATO is the essential transatlantic forum for consultations on all matters related to our individual and collective security”, Ambassador Ruge said. “We will continue to consult on Russian hostile activities and coordinate national and Allied responses.”

Allies expressed their deep concern over Russia’s hybrid actions, which constitute a threat to Allied security. Recent hostile acts have included sabotage, acts of violence, provocations at Allied borders and violations of Allied airspace, instrumentalization of irregular migration as well as malicious cyber activities and disinformation campaigns. Russia’s behaviour will not deter Allies’ resolve and support to Ukraine. 

Regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, Allies stressed that Iran’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia represents a substantial escalation in Tehran’s support for Russia’s illegal war. And several Allies have already announced new sanctions in response.

In his keynote address, Admiral Bauer underlined the global repercussions of Russia’s war against Ukraine. He commended the Republic of Korea for their strong and unwavering support to Ukraine. He stated that NATO strongly condemns the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which undermines peace on the Korean Peninsula and fuels the war on Ukraine. Admiral Bauer highlighted how NATO and its Indo-Pacific Partners are further strengthening cooperation on multiple levels. “There is no stronger weapon in the world than unity. Together we will prove that democracy will triumph over tyranny.”

The bilateral meeting with Republic of Korea Minister of National Defence KIM Yong-hyun, offered a chance to share assessments of the global security environment and how to enhance cooperation. NATO and the Republic of Korea work together bilaterally on a number of shared cross-regional security challenges, which include cyber defence, arms control and non-proliferation, technology and counter-terrorism. They also cooperate as part of NATO’s broader relations with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The Republic of Korea and NATO are committed to enhancing political dialogue and practical cooperation in order to uphold and strengthen the rules-based international order.

In the meeting with Admiral Kim Myung-soo, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS), Admiral Bauer discussed the current cooperation under the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme that was agreed in 2023. Political dialogue and practical cooperation are being developed across priority areas, including non-proliferation, cyber defence, science and technology, counter-terrorism, interoperability, and defence against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents.

In his meeting with Minister of Defence of Mongolia Byambatsogt Sandag, Admiral Bauer expressed his gratitude for the way in which he was received in Mongolia earlier this week. NATO and Mongolia are jointly working on strengthening relations based on shared values and common interests.

On the margins of the conference, the French Contact Point Embassy hosted a gathering of the Allied heads of delegation. Here, Admiral Bauer spoke about the importance of applying a holistic approach to Partnerships that includes both military and political aspects.

The main theme of the 2024 Seoul Defense Dialogue was “International Cooperation Beyond Global Security Challenges. SDD is a global gathering of high-level defence officials and civilian security experts. Since 2012 the SDD has contributed to multilateral security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and peace on the Korean Peninsula by fostering constructive engagement and dialogue.

See Admiral Bauer’s Keynote Address at the Seoul Defense Dialogue
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_228569.htm

NATO Allies are providing critical military support, with weapons now “in action, defending Ukrainian skies and cities,” said Mr Stoltenberg. At the Washington Summit, leaders agreed on a new NATO command to lead the coordination and provision of security assistance and training. Allies also intend to provide 40 billion euros within the next year and pledge to ensure sustainable funding for the long-term. Stoltenberg highlighted that NATO’s support will “help Ukraine defend itself today, and deter Russian aggression in the future”.

The Secretary General commended the Crimea Platform’s important work in strengthening Ukraine’s cooperation with the international community and enhancing dialogue. He also praised the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces and citizens, calling them an inspiration “to the world and to me personally.” In his last address to the Crimea Platform as Secretary General, Mr Stoltenberg concluded: “Ukraine’s future is in NATO and it is on an irreversible path to membership… With NATO’s continued help, Ukraine will prevail as a sovereign, independent and democratic nation.”

A series of events to mark the transition of mandate from Mr Stoltenberg to Mr Rutte will take place at NATO Headquarters that morning, beginning at 09:00 CEST.
 

Media advisory

09:00 (CEST):   Wreath laying ceremony by the NATO Secretary General and NATO Secretary General Designate

09:10 (CEST):   Joint doorstep by the Secretary General and Secretary General Designate

10:00 (CEST):   Handover in the North Atlantic Council with remarks by the Secretary General and Secretary General Designate

10:35 (CEST):   Short remarks by the former Secretary General and new Secretary General to all staff

11:30 (CEST):   Press conference of the new NATO Secretary General
 

Media coverage

• Media representatives with annual accreditation to NATO for 2024 can cover the event in person. Additionally, media without annual accreditation who are interested in covering the event can request ad-hoc accreditation. Please apply for accreditation on the NATO press portal no later than Thursday 19 September at 09:00 (CEST).
   
• The ceremony will be streamed live on the NATO website, broadcast live on EBU News Exchange, EBU WorldFeed and YouTube.
   
• Transcripts of the joint doorstep and press conference, as well as photographs and video, will be available after the event.

For more information:

For general queries: Contact the NATO Press Office

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