Category: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Faced with the exponential growth of biotech breakthroughs and their anticipated impact on defence and security, NATO has positioned itself as an ethical leader on biotech and human enhancement technologies by adopting an informed, value-based and gender-aware strategy. 

The aim is to embrace these emerging solutions lawfully and responsibly, while developing a trusted relationship with innovators and the public and protecting the Alliance against misuse of these technologies by strategic competitors and potential adversaries. Implementation of the strategy will be carried out in full respect of international law and existing protocols and practices, especially for bioethics. Application of biotech-related solutions will be in line with NATO’s defensive nature. It can range from the possible use of biosensors to enhance the detection of biological and chemical threats; to the development of health tech wearables; and other biomaterials that can help protect and heal servicemen and women. 

Expert research on opportunities and challenges linked to such an application will start in the months to come.

Biotechnology and Human Enhancement technologies were identified as a priority emerging, disruptive technology in 2019. 

Mr Geoană met with the Commander of MARCOM, Vice Admiral Mike Utley and other key members of staff. The Deputy Secretary General and the Commander’s discussions focused on the importance of MARCOM in NATO’s new defence plans and the command’s crucial role in keeping seaways between North America and Europe open. After recent damage to Baltic Sea underwater infrastructure, they also discussed how Allied navies and new technologies can better protect undersea infrastructure and the Alliance’s role in shielding subsea cables and pipelines.

Mr Geoană further highlighted the need for continued Western support to Ukraine, saying that the cost of allowing Russia to prevail would be far greater than the cost of supporting Ukraine now. The Deputy Secretary General and the Commander also discussed evolving missile and drone technologies, as well as how NATO can better adapt to the role of artificial intelligence in modern warfare. Warning that the Alliance is facing the greatest security challenges in a generation, Mr Geoană stressed MARCOM’s central role in protecting NATO’s one billion people.

During his trip to London, Mr Geoană met with the Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, and the National Security Advisor for the United Kingdom, Sir Tim Barrow.

The Deputy Secretary General concluded his trip with an opening address at the third edition of the annual NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) Conference in London. This year’s conference focused on the deliverables for the Washington Summit, lessons learned from the war against Ukraine, and NATO IAMD adaption beyond the Summit.

The previous set of SPS Key Priorities was agreed in 2012 and represented the prerogatives of the Alliance outlined in the 2010 Strategic Concept and in the partnership policy endorsed by NATO Foreign Ministers in Berlin in 2011. Those Priorities have guided SPS activities until now.

But a lot has changed since 2012 for NATO, its partners, and the world as a whole. In 2021, Allies agreed on NATO 2030: a forward-looking agenda aimed at strengthening the Alliance for the challenges of today and tomorrow. A new Strategic Concept was also adopted in 2022, which acknowledged significant changes in the security environment. In addition to themes that are important for NATO’s core tasks, like counter-terrorism and cyber defence, new thematic areas have risen to prominence, including innovation and emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs), climate change and security, resilience, critical undersea infrastructure, and hybrid threats.

Our changed and changing security environment is reflected in an updated set of SPS Key Priorities. “With the Alliance turning 75 this year, it was essential to reflect with Allies on how the SPS Programme can continue to foster timely and impactful technological innovation to address emerging security challenges. These Key Priorities ensure the continued relevance of the Programme to NATO’s renewed focus and strategic outlook”, stated Dr Claudio Palestini, Head of the SPS Programme. 

The revised SPS Key Priorities will inform upcoming calls for proposals issued by the SPS Programme, starting from April 2024. They are outlined in detail on the SPS website.

The Secretary General praised Helsinki’s many contributions to NATO, saying “Finland takes security and defence seriously”. “You have long made defence spending a priority and we are grateful for the fact that when Finland joined NATO, yet another NATO Ally is spending more than 2% on defence. You have highly trained personnel and your advanced military capabilities bolster our deterrence and defence,” he said. Mr Stoltenberg also thanked Finland for its staunch support to Ukraine, amounting to some 2 billion euros in military aid since 2022, and welcomed Finland’s recent conclusion of a 10-year security agreement with Kyiv.

The Secretary General emphasised the urgency of continued military support to Ukraine amid a difficult battlefield situation. “Delays in funding are having direct consequences on the ground every day,” he said. “Delays in delivery of air defences will allow Russian missiles to hit more targets, and delays in delivery of ammunition will allow Russia to press along the frontline. Ukraine simply cannot wait. It needs air defences, ammunition and aid – now.”

Mr Stoltenberg underlined that “NATO is actively working to ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine now and for the long haul”.
 

To mark the twentieth anniversary of their accession to NATO, the embassies of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia organized the event. In his virtual address, Mr Geoană said that he could not think of a better host than Finland to talk about NATO’s open door policy. “Together with our newest member Sweden, you have shown the world what freedom means,” he said and added that President Putin has failed in his attempt to “slam NATO’s door shut.”

The Deputy Secretary General highlighted that Ukraine has, like others before it in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics, chosen the path to NATO membership and NATO will continue to “to build a bridge for Ukraine to join our great Alliance,” as we look to Washington Summit in July.  

From 1949, NATO has grown from twelve members to thirty-two. The Deputy Secretary General stressed that NATO’s open door policy has brought more forces, more capabilities, and more people with skills and expertise into the Alliance. ”NATO Allies from the Baltic to the Black Sea contribute significantly to NATO’s collective security,” he said, stressing that these countries also contribute to NATO’s innovation ecosystem, including test centres and accelerator sites part of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).

The NATO Open Door Conference in Helsinki was co-organized by the embassies of the participating countries in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for International Affairs and the Atlantic Council of Finland.

Mr Stoltenberg emphasised that NATO strongly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He outlined that NATO’s commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina includes support to the country’s security reform efforts via the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, and strengthening capabilities through a Defence Capacity Building package. He added that NATO continues to support the EU-led Operation Althea to maintain a safe and secure environment, saying: “We stand ready to continue our political dialogue and strengthen our practical cooperation, for the benefit of our shared security.”
 
The Secretary General commended Bosnia and Herzegovina for its recent progress on the path toward European Union membership and welcomed efforts to upgrade the country’s armed forces to work even more closely with NATO. However, he expressed concern about secessionist policies and divisive rhetoric, describing this as “reckless and dangerous” and undermining hard-won progress. He stressed that “all political leaders must work together to preserve unity and safeguard national institutions”, adding that “this is key for peace and security in the country, and for stability in the Western Balkans.”

The Group of Experts pointed out that NATO should continue to adopt a comprehensive approach based on dialogue, outreach and practical cooperation with international and regional organisations and partner countries. The Group found that NATO should focus its efforts particularly on areas such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, resilience, climate security, Women, Peace and Security and human security. It should invest further in training and building partners’ capacity to manage complex security challenges within their neighbourhoods. At the Washington Summit in July, NATO Heads of State and Government will consider concrete proposals informed by the review’s findings.

The independent Group of Experts was appointed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last October. It was composed of eleven experts and engaged with the North Atlantic Council, senior Allied civilian and military staff, NATO partners in the southern neighbourhood, as well as experts from academia and civil society. 

The Secretary General thanked the content creators for their interest, said that NATO’s 75th anniversary – celebrated on Thursday – was an opportunity to remind the Alliance’s one billion citizens of NATO’s enduring value in dangerous times. 

Together, the nine creators reach millions of followers around the world across key social media platforms. The group also met senior officials including Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Marie-Doha Besancenot and NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah.