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At NATO, Zelensky Secures More Ukraine Aid as Allies Balance Support for Israel

The surprise appearance by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine came as much of the West has turned its focus to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

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By Lara Jakes and Constant Méheut

Lara Jakes reported from Brussels and Constant Méheut from Paris.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made a surprise visit to NATO headquarters on Wednesday, urging the military alliance to maintain its flow of weapons to his country for its war against Russia, even as much of the West turns its attention to the brutal outbreak of violence in Israel.

Top NATO officials sought to reassure Mr. Zelensky, pledging more than $2 billion in additional military aid to be delivered before Ukraine’s winter sets in.

“Your fight is our fight, your security is our security, and your values are our values,” Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, said at the start of two days of meetings among the alliance’s defense chiefs. “And we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

But Mr. Zelensky later said that “of course, everybody’s afraid” that Western assistance would dwindle as the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues.

“Who knows how it will be,” Mr. Zelensky said at an appearance with Belgium’s prime minister after meeting with top defense officials from NATO members. “I think nobody knows.”

Mr. Zelensky’s visit to the military alliance’s headquarters in Brussels was a stark reminder of the 19-month-old conflict on NATO’s doorstep, amid concerns that the war in Israel, which broke out this past weekend, could eventually divert resources from Ukraine.

An initial package of weapons shipped directly from the United States arrived in Israel on Wednesday morning, according to video posted on X by the Israeli defense ministry.

Mr. Zelensky said that he was counting on Ukraine’s strong relations with the United States and the European Union to ensure that assistance to his country would continue. Still, he urged nations to rally behind the Israeli people, and compared the assault by Hamas to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Senior NATO officials privately conceded that Ukraine might have cause for concern, given the violence in Israel and the budget fight in the United States Congress that threatens American war funding. At least some of the American weapons flow could dry up in a matter of months if the money is not approved quickly, according to one senior U.S. official who spoke to journalists in Brussels on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal debate more frankly.

“In the immediate term right now, we can continue to support, with the authorities and appropriations we have, Israel and Ukraine,” John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, told journalists in Washington. “But we’re certainly running out of runway.”

But the U.S. official and other experts also said that a diversion of weapons to Israel at Ukraine’s expense is not expected to happen in the near future, since the two countries use different kinds of air defenses to protect their respective territories.

And at least eight NATO states pledged additional reinforcements — including air defense systems, 155-millimeter ammunition and tanks — to speed to Ukraine as the two days of meetings began among the alliance’s defense ministers.

At NATO, Mr. Zelensky said he was counting on the West to supply more air defenses, long-range missiles and artillery to help his country “survive this next winter.”

He also repeated his assertion that Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, seeks to foment chaos and conflict in the Middle East to undermine support for Kyiv, noting that Moscow still has enough weapons, personnel and other resources “to incite conflicts and turn that into full scale tragedies.”

“This is happening in the Sahel,” he said, referring to a region in sub-Saharan Africa, “and it can happen even more painfully in Israel and in the Middle East as a whole. We must not allow this to happen. We can prevent it.”

Mr. Putin, for his part, assailed the United States for a second consecutive day, saying it was inflaming another international crisis with the Israeli-Hamas war. Speaking at an energy conference on Wednesday, Mr. Putin accused Washington of acting recklessly in the Middle East by sidestepping international efforts to mediate between the sides and said it had failed to address fundamental Palestinian grievances.

The United States has committed about $44 billion in weapons and military support to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022, and on Wednesday announced that it would ship more air defense missiles, artillery, rockets and counter-drone equipment in a new package worth about $200 million. This week it delivered the remainder of 31 M1 Abrams tanks that the Biden administration promised to give Ukraine in January, according to Col. Martin O’Donnell, a U.S. Army spokesman in Europe.

“In terms of our ability to continue to support both the efforts in Ukraine and support our efforts in Israel, as well — absolutely, we can do both,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said after meeting with the other defense ministers. “And we will do both.”

Officials said the Biden administration would also step up its involvement in a coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, although the warplanes are not expected to be delivered until next year at the very earliest.

From Canada to Spain to Bulgaria, other allies also pledged new packages of weapons and aid.

The largest was committed by Germany, which announced on Tuesday it would send about $1.1 billion in Patriot missiles and IRIS-T air defense systems, and 10 more Leopard tanks.

Most of the additional assistance — which also included donations from Britain, France and Sweden — sought to answer Ukraine’s needs to defend its skies from Russian airstrikes, and for artillery and ammunition.

NATO officials will hear on Thursday from Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a video briefing at the close of the military alliance’s meetings this week.

For now, the air defenses that Israel may seek from the United States include Tamir interceptors — missiles that are used in Israel’s Iron Dome system. They have not been sent to Ukraine, which has depended on a mix of air defense systems that are manufactured and used in the United States and Europe.

“There is no competition between Israel and Ukraine worth mentioning for those capabilities,” said Bradley Bowman, a former U.S. Army officer and senior military expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington research institute.

Where the needs for weapons could overlap between Ukraine and Israel, Mr. Bowman said, is in munitions and other ground warfare systems, if Israel launches a lengthy building-to-building rout of Hamas in Gaza. Ukraine’s forces have burned through thousands of munitions each day in their counteroffensive against Russia — a war of attrition that has left troops on the front lines pleading for more ammunition.

“If we see a major ground war in Gaza of extended duration, the weapons Israel needs from the U.S. may begin to overlap with some of the weapons Ukraine needs,” Mr. Bowman said. “But a prospective competition between Ukraine and Israel for the same weapons could certainly be managed.”

At NATO, Mr. Zelensky again emphasized how valuable it was to have the backing of allies, and urged world leaders ”to go to Israel and add their support.”

“I remember the first days of our full-scale war — it began from terroristic attacks,” he told journalists shortly after arriving Wednesday. “It was very important to not be alone.”

Ivan Nechepurenko contributed reporting from Tbilisi, Georgia, and Peter Baker from Washington.

An earlier version of this article misidentified one of the countries leading a coalition to donate F-16 jets to Ukraine. It is Denmark, not Norway.

How we handle corrections

Lara Jakes is a foreign correspondent focused on the war in Ukraine. She has been a diplomatic and military correspondent in Washington and a war correspondent in Iraq, and has reported and edited from more than 60 countries over the last 25 years. More about Lara Jakes

Constant Méheut has covered France from the Paris bureau of The Times since 2020. More about Constant Méheut

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

The top American military commander in Europe warned that Ukraine could lose the war with Russia  if the United States did not send more ammunition to Ukrainian forces, and fast.

Ukrainian lawmakers passed a mobilization law aimed at replenishing the nation’s exhausted and depleted fighting forces .

China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, and Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, met in Beijing . The visit came days after the United States threatened new sanctions against Chinese companies if they aided Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Hollowing Out a Generation:  Ukraine desperately needs new recruits, but it is running up against a critical demographic constraint long in the making: It has very few young men .

Conditional Support: Ukraine wants a formal invitation to join NATO, but the alliance has no appetite for taking on a new member  that would draw it into the biggest land war in Europe since 1945.

‘Shell Hunger’: A desperate shortage of munitions in Ukraine  is warping tactics and the types of weapons employed, and what few munitions remain are often mismatched with battlefield needs.

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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Instructions for Visitors

J10 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

Thank you for your interest in the Allied Command Operations (ACO), and its Strategic Headquarters Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). To enable SHAPE J10 Strategic Communications Division (J10 STRATCOM) to organise your visit to SHAPE, please read the information below and then complete and return the annexes as requested.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR VISITORS

Location of the Base B-7010 SHAPE

Please note that the base B-7010 SHAPE is located at (about 70 km) southwest of Brussels near the town of Mons (Flemish: Bergen), north of the Motorway E 19/E 42.

It is not NATO HQ in the northern part of Brussels.

Application Form/Participants List

The Visitor’s request form must be submitted to SHAPE J10 STRATCOM via e-mail. To facilitate the organisation of your visit please fill in all mandatory fields (Visitor Request Form) and submit to SHAPE J10 STRATCOM as soon as possible however no later than 7 weeks prior to the visit . As soon as we have checked the availability of a briefing room and a briefer, we will confirm the date of the visit by e-mail.

The list of participants ( Participants List ) has to be typewritten in alphabetical order and returned to SHAPE J10 STRATCOM at least two weeks before the date of your visit . If someone in your group is from a non-NATO nation, you will also be required to send us a copy of their passport.

You must also make sure that visitors bring his/her passport or identity card with them . Incomplete data on the Participants List or forgetting to bring passports/identity cards along for the visit can cause severe disruptions in gaining access to SHAPE.

Groups have to provide the data for the transportation vehicle(s) and the driver(s) as requested in the list of participants. Without this information, the driver will have to in-process through the Visitors' Office and the visit will be delayed.

No access for individual cars.

If you do not have a coach, you may arrive by public transportation (see paragraph “how to get to SHAPE”), but please make the necessary arrangements in order to arrive on time.

Should any major delay (i.e. road works, traffic accident, etc.) occur en route to SHAPE on the day of the visit, the group leader should contact our office via email ( [email protected] ) so we can inform staff members and re-arrange the schedule, if possible.

If you do not provide the required documents in accordance with the given timeline and format, we have the right to cancel at short notice.

SHAPE also reserves the right to cancel the visit due to time constraints or for other military reasons.

Security Policy

SHAPE reserves the right to check any ID prior to entering, and controls may be carried out at any time within the SHAPE installation.

Vehicle, baggage and container searches may be carried out at any time when entering the installation through the gates or while present on base as part of SHAPE overall security measures.

Visitors are responsible for:

• Safeguarding access documents (visitor pass and visitor vehicle pass)
• Reporting loss or theft without delay to their escort officer
• Ensuring that assigned badges are only used by themselves and are returned to SHAPE or destroyed when expired
• Acting accordingly with all the instruction given by their escort officer on the day of arrival

Mobile phones/Cameras

For reasons of security, the taking of photographs is limited. Your escort officer will advise you on the day of your visit.

Coffee/Tea break

During the break, coffee/tea and other beverages can be bought at the Headquarters cafeteria “The Silver Spoon”. Nevertheless, please be informed that this option is only available for morning session visits (note: the cafeteria will only accept Euros).

There is a NO SMOKING policy at the Headquarters (including the cafeteria ‘The Silver Spoon’). Smoking is allowed in designated smoking areas outside the building ONLY. Your escort officer will advise you on the day of your visit.

Accessibility

SHAPE is committed to constantly improving access for people with disabilities. Should you or someone in your group require special assistance, please notify us in advance.

STANDARD VISIT PROGRAMME

HOW TO GET TO SHAPE

Take the Motorway E19/E42 and take exit 23 “S.H.A.P.E./MAISIERES”.

If coming from the direction Namur/Brussels please turn right, if coming from direction Tournai/Paris turn left onto the N6 in direction “BRUSSELS/SOIGNIES/MAISIERES/S.H.A.P.E”. You will pass “Mons-Maisières” and approach a low hill. When you reach the top stay in the right lane. After the traffic lights take the left lane and turn left into “SHAPE Visitors’ Parking”.

From Brussels: Take ring RO or the Motorway E 19/A7 in the direction of Bergen (please note that in the Flemish region of Belgium, Mons is named Bergen) – then follow E19/E42 in the direction Mons/Paris. Please calculate at least a 01:15 hour drive from downtown Brussels to SHAPE.

For the use of navigation systems, you may use the following addresses: Avenue de Berlin, 7010 SHAPE (or 7020 Maisières or 7000 Mons) or Rue Grande, 7020 Maisières.

On arrival, please wait with your coach at the bus parking of the SHAPE Visitors’ Parking lot. The escort officer will meet the head of the group at the SHAPE Visitors' Office. The passengers are requested to wait at the bus. The escort officer will deliver the individual passes and check all the participants’ passports.

By Public Transportation

From Mons SNCB train station, take bus number 15, direction Soignies, and get off at the bus stop “Maisières – Le Maisières” which brings you close to the Berlin Gate main entrance of SHAPE. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes. Be aware that the bus may not be frequent - every 20/30 minutes up to every hour. Therefore, carefully plan your arrival beforehand.

Bus information can be found (also in English) on https://www.infotec.be .

The escort officer will meet your group at the SHAPE Visitors’ Office.

For any further inquiries concerning your visit please contact us:

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS EUROPE J10 Strategic Communications Engagement, Outreach & Internal Communications Branch B-7010 SHAPE

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From The Queen To Putin, Here's What Biden Has Planned For His Trip To Europe

Franco Ordoñez

President Biden is set to spend eight days in Europe, first meeting allies and partners in the U.K. and Brussels, and then meeting his Russian counterpart in Geneva. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

President Biden is set to spend eight days in Europe, first meeting allies and partners in the U.K. and Brussels, and then meeting his Russian counterpart in Geneva.

On the first foreign trip of his time in office, President Biden is heading to Europe, seeking to repair ties with traditional allies and partners — and deal with a series of provocations from Russia.

Here's what's on his agenda:

Wednesday, June 9: RAF Mildenhall

Air Force One will land at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, and Biden will meet with U.S. Air Force personnel stationed there. The president will be accompanied by first lady Jill Biden for the first leg of his trip.

Thursday, June 10: Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet to talk about bilateral issues. Climate, trade and Northern Ireland are expected to be on the agenda.

Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12: G7 in Cornwall

It's the first time the leaders of the world's biggest economies will get together in person since the pandemic. The leaders are expected to talk about recovery from the pandemic, and Biden will be trying to marshal support for helping poorer countries get more COVID-19 vaccine doses — something the United States is only just beginning to do itself. Former President Donald Trump had a rough relationship with several G7 leaders — notably Germany's Angela Merkel and Canada's Justin Trudeau . Biden will try to mend fences, and is expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders on the sidelines of the summit's group sessions.

Sunday, June 13: The Queen

After the G7 concludes, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will visit Queen Elizabeth II , before traveling on to Brussels.

The Queen will meet the President of the United States of America and First Lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle on Sunday, 13th June 2021. pic.twitter.com/GPJLYwFzyr — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 3, 2021

Monday, June 14: NATO

Biden will meet NATO allies at their first summit since 2018. Biden is expected to provide reassurance that the U.S. is committed to the alliance after difficult years when Trump fought with them to boost military spending . Amanda Sloat, the European director on the White House National Security Council, said Friday that aggressive Russian actions in the region would be discussed, as well as the "strategic challenge" from China, cyber threats, climate change and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

Biden will also meet on the sidelines with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for what could be a difficult conversation after Biden's April declaration that the mass slaughter of Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks more than a century ago was a genocide.

Tuesday, June 15: EU, trade and technology

This will be the first U.S.-EU Summit since 2014. There are some thorny topics: the Trump-era steel and aluminum tariffs, and longstanding disputes over subsidies to Airbus and Boeing. Technology policy could be in the spotlight as well. "There's also a lot of things in the technology space that we have the opportunity now to work closely with our European friends on in terms of addressing 5G security, emerging technology, setting standards, technology regulation," Sloat said.

Wednesday, June 16: Russia

Biden has said he wants to establish a more "stable, predictable relationship" when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva at the end of his trip. But he has also said he will raise many contentious issues, including Russia's incursions in Ukraine, interference in foreign elections, the poisoning and imprisonment of Alexei Navalny , the SolarWinds hack, and ransomware attacks by Russia-based groups on a major U.S. pipeline and JBS, a major meat supplier. Their meeting will be the first stand-alone U.S.-Russia summit since 2018, when Trump sided with Putin in Helsinki when the Russian leader denied meddling in the 2016 election.

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Biden and world leaders meet at 2021 NATO summit

By Zamira Rahim, Melissa Macaya and Ed Upright, CNN

Here are some of the highlights from today's NATO summit in Brussels

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held its 31st summit in Brussels today.

It's past 10 p.m. in Brussels now, but if you're just catching up on the day, here are some of the highlights:

• NATO countries issue communique on China and Russia: The NATO members issued a communiqué highlighting the “threat” presented by Russia and the “challenges” posed by China, following a meeting on Monday. “Russia’s aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security," the communiqué read. On China, the statement said: “China’s growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance. The statement added that the NATO members "will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the Alliance.”
• NATO agrees cyberattacks could lead to the invocation of mutual self-defense clause: The leaders of the 30 NATO countries agreed “that the impact of significant malicious cumulative cyber activities might, in certain circumstances, be considered as amounting to an armed attack,” an assessment that could lead to the invocation of the organization’s mutual self-defense clause, Article 5. The countries “(reaffirmed) that a decision as to when a cyber attack would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis,” according to a joint statement released during the NATO leaders’ summit on Monday.
• Biden says he'll make "red lines" clear to Putin: US President Biden was asked about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He refused to give details about what he expected the meeting to look like or what topics it might include, but said he will make clear where the "red lines" are. "I'm going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses, and if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past relative to cybersecurity and some other activities, then we will respond. We will respond in kind," Biden said.
• NATO backs US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan: NATO leaders largely backed the US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Some American allies had griped ahead of the summit that they weren’t properly consulted before Biden announced he would withdraw US troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11. Others have questioned how security can be maintained in the country when US troops leave, particularly at Kabul International Airport and at other diplomatic facilities. NATO leaders have also agreed to provide “transitional funding” to ensure that the international airport in Kabul continues to operate.
• Biden calls for NATO members to stand up to autocrats and "phony populism": President Biden repeated a call Monday “to prove to the world and to our own people that democracy can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver the needs of our people.” Biden said it was up to Democratic nations to prove to the world that autocracies cannot deliver for their people. He said NATO members must root out corruption, guard against hatred and “phony populism,” and invest in strengthening institutions “that underpin and safeguard our cherished democratic values.”

Biden stops at 9/11 memorial at NATO before departing summit

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

US President Joe Biden stopped briefly at a 9/11 memorial at NATO headquarters before departing Monday's summit.

Biden stood at the twisted piece of metal from the North Tower of the World Trade Center and made the sign of the cross before greeting Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg one final time.

"Got to remind everybody: NATO. NATO," Biden could be overheard telling Stoltenberg, presumably a reference to the US invocation of Article 5 following 9/11.

They spoke for a little while longer, placing their hands on each others' shoulders, before Stoltenberg walked Biden to his car.

Biden says western leaders know the character of the American people in wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot

President Biden says he can assuage concerns among European allies about the state of American democracy by showing up and proving his commitment to restoring traditional alliances.

Biden was questioned about fears among western nations that recent events in the United States, including the Jan. 6 riot, have shaken the country's historic position as a leader of the free world.

Biden said he was convinced that leaders he is dealing with this week on a European tour have a more nuanced view of the American people and "know generically the character of the American people and know where the vast center of the public stands."

"I think that they have seen things happen, as we have, that shocked them and surprised them that could have happened, but I think they, like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that kind of behavior," Biden said.

Biden said he believed the Republican Party is "vastly diminished in numbers," and called the GOP's leadership "fractured." But he said the Trump phase of GOP politics was "passing."

"That's why it's so important that I succeed in my agenda. Whether it's dealing with the vaccine, the economy, infrastructure. It's important we demonstrate we can make progress and continue to make progress," he said.

Biden says he was honest when he called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "killer"

From CNN's Allie Malloy

President Biden told CNN’s Jeff Zeleny that when he called the Russian President a “killer,” he answered honestly, adding he didn’t “think it matters a whole lot” in terms of their upcoming summit. 

Biden initially responded to Zeleny’s question by chuckling and replying: “I’m laughing, too,” a reference to Putin’s reaction in an interview when he was asked about Biden’s initial comments. 

“The answer is I believe he has in the past essentially acknowledged that he was – there are certain things he would do or did do. Look, when I was asked that question on air I answered it honestly. I don’t think it matters a whole lot in terms of this next meeting that we’re about to have,” Biden added. 

When asked how he would ever be able to trust Putin if the two leaders are able to move forward, Biden said he would “verify first and then trust.”

“In other words everything would have to be shown to be actually occurring. It’s not about, you know, trusting, it’s about agreeing,” Biden said. 

Biden pointed to other examples and treaties with other adversaries in the past, saying, “you don’t say I trust you, you say this is what I expect and if you violate the agreement you made then, the treaty's off.”

“I’m hoping that President Putin concludes that there is some interest in terms of his own interest in changing the perception the world has of him, in terms of whether or not he will engage behavior that’s more consistent with what is considered to be appropriate behavior for a head of state,” Biden added.

Biden repeats call to NATO allies to defend democracy against autocracy

US President Joe Biden repeated a call Monday “to prove to the world and to our own people that democracy can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver the needs of our people.”

Speaking after his first NATO summit, Biden said it was up to Democratic nations to prove to the world that autocracies cannot deliver for their people.

"That's how we'll prove that democracy and that our alliance can still prevail against the challenges of our time, deliver for the needs and the needs of our people,” he said.

He said NATO members must root out corruption, guard against hatred and “phony populism,” and invest in strengthening institutions “that underpin and safeguard our cherished democratic values.”

Biden was speaking after meeting with the 30-member defense alliance, as well as a number of leaders one-on-one.

He offered a firm defense of the Article 5 collective defense clause, and said “everyone in that room understood the shared appreciation that America is back.”

Article 5 is the principle that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members. It’s been a cornerstone for the 29-member alliance since it was founded in 1949 as a counterweight to the Soviet Union. Article 5 has only been invoked once: After the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the US.

Biden said there was a “strong consensus” among leaders about his plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11.

And he repeated his concerns that Russia and China are “driving a wedge” between western allies.

Watch here:

CNN's Jeremy Herb contributed to this report.

Biden says the death of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny would be a "tragedy"

Speaking at a news conference following a full day of meetings with NATO leaders, President Biden was asked about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Putin on Wednesday.

Specifically, he was asked what it would mean for the US-Russia relationship if jailed opposition activist Alexey Navalny were to die or be killed in prison.

"Navalny's death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights," Biden said.

"It would be a tragedy. It would do nothing but hurt his [Putin's] relationships with the rest of the world, in my view," he continued.

Navalny was imprisoned earlier this year by a Moscow court for allegedly violating the probation terms of a 2014 case in which he received a suspended sentence of three and a half years.

On June 9 a Moscow court ruled that two organizations linked to Navalny  are "extremist" groups – forcing them to shut down and rendering their members ineligible to run in upcoming elections.

Biden says he'll "make it clear what the red lines are" in upcoming meeting with Putin

US President Joe Biden was just asked about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He refused to give details about what he expected the meeting to look like or what topics it might include, but said he will make clear where the "red lines" are.

"I'm going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses, and if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past relative to cybersecurity and some other activities, then we will respond. We will respond in kind," Biden said.

He said he's spoken to Putin in the past, and described him as "bright" and "tough." Biden also said he would provide more details after the Wednesday meeting.

"The fact is that I will be happy to talk with you when it's over, not before, about what the discussion will entail," he said.

President Biden says the US is "approaching a sad milestone" of 600,000 Covid-19 deaths

US President Joe Biden opened his press conference tonight in Brussels by noting that the United States is "approaching a sad milestone" of 600,000 Covid-19 deaths. 

"We made enormous progress in the United States. Much of the country is returning to normal, and our economic growth is leading the world, and the number of cases and deaths are dropping dramatically. But there's still too many lives being lost. We're still averaging in the last seven days the loss of 370 deaths per day — 370 deaths. That's significantly lower than at the peak of this crisis, but it's still a real tragedy. We're approaching a sad milestone. Almost 600,000 lost lives because of Covid-19 in America." 

He pleaded with Americans who haven't gotten the vaccine to get vaccinated "as soon as possible."

"We have more work to do to beat this virus. And now's not the time to let our guard down," Biden said. "Please get vaccinated as soon as possible. We have had enough pain. Enough pain."

NOW: Biden holds news conference after attending his first NATO summit as US President

From CNN's Kevin Liptak and Kate Sullivan

US President Joe Biden is speaking to reporters now from Brussels after participating in the 2021 NATO summit.

Biden arrived at the gathering with a vow to reaffirm the United States' commitment to a military alliance his predecessor viewed with disdain. He placed enhanced attention on Russia and China, along with the cyber-threats emanating from both countries.

NATO leaders largely backed Biden's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, according to a senior administration official present for the talks.

The group agreed in its final statement to provide "transitional funding" to keep the airport open, and Turkey — a NATO member state — committed to keeping troops in the country to safeguard the facility.

A final communiqué issued by the group highlighted the "threat" presented by Russia and the "challenges" posed by China following the meeting on Monday.

Read more about today's summit here .

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I'm stydy the political science, so it will be very interesting for me to see the famoust NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Do you know, if the turists have the free acsess to the famoust NATO sign (big "compass rose") in front of the NATO building - I want to take a photo with it. Or I need the special pass?

Bus 21 from Trône stops right outside NATO building but you can't go in the gates, so as long as you are happy with a photo from outside, that would be fine. As far as I remember, the flags are outside the gate in which case the "compass rose" must be as well, at least it seems that way in this photo: http://toronto.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=31&s=1883&arhiva=true

The flags and emblem are inside the gates and I am pretty sure that someone taking pictures right outside the Nato main gate would be questioned by either security or police.

There is no free access to Nato at all.

And btw the building itself is really not worth a visit

Does there any excursionы/tourы inside the NATO garden or inside the buinding?

An office I used to have to visit is close by and so I had to go pass the Nato building to get there. It certainly did not seem very welcoming! I would be surprised if they let anyone in without proper accreditation.

And what about EU buildings (Europarlament, European Commission etc.) Is there something that worth a visit or it's the ordinary building?

There is no garden at Nato, just the flags and the sign. For tours check the Nato website

http://www.nato.int

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Brussels Summit Communiqué

Issued by the heads of state and government participating in the meeting of the north atlantic council in brussels 14 june 2021.

• 14 Jun. 2021 -
• Press Release (2021) 086
• Issued on 14 Jun. 2021
• Last updated: 01 Jul. 2022 16:41

1.           We, the Heads of State and Government of the 30 NATO Allies, have gathered in Brussels to reaffirm our unity, solidarity, and cohesion, and to open a new chapter in transatlantic relations, at a time when the security environment we face is increasingly complex.  NATO remains the foundation of our collective defence and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions among Allies.  NATO is a defensive Alliance and will continue to strive for peace, security, and stability in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic area.  We remain firmly committed to NATO’s founding Washington Treaty, including that an attack against one Ally shall be considered an attack against us all, as enshrined in Article 5.  We will continue to pursue a 360-degree approach to protect and defend our indivisible security and to fulfil NATO’s three core tasks of collective defence, crisis management, and cooperative security.

2.           NATO is the strongest and most successful Alliance in history.  It guarantees the security of our territory and our one billion citizens, our freedom, and the values we share, including individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.  We are bound together by our common values, enshrined in the Washington Treaty, the bedrock of our unity, solidarity, and cohesion.  We commit to fulfiling our responsibilities as Allies accordingly.  We reaffirm our adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter.  We are committed to the rules-based international order.  We commit to reinforce consultations when the security or stability of an Ally is threatened or when our fundamental values and principles are at risk.

3.           We face multifaceted threats, systemic competition from assertive and authoritarian powers, as well as growing security challenges to our countries and our citizens from all strategic directions.  Russia’s aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security; terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a persistent threat to us all.  State and non-state actors challenge the rules-based international order and seek to undermine democracy across the globe.  Instability beyond our borders is also contributing to irregular migration and human trafficking.  China’s growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance.  We will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the Alliance.  We are increasingly confronted by cyber, hybrid, and other asymmetric threats, including disinformation campaigns, and by the malicious use of ever-more sophisticated emerging and disruptive technologies.  Rapid advances in the space domain are affecting our security.  The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the erosion of the arms control architecture also undermine our collective security.  Climate change is a threat multiplier that impacts Alliance security.  The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territories and our populations against attack, and we will address all threats and challenges which affect Euro-Atlantic security.

4.           We gather at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to test our nations and our resilience.  NATO and Allied militaries have supported the civilian response to the pandemic, while ensuring our collective defence and the effectiveness of our operations.  We have also provided critical assistance to a number of partners through the delivery of vital medical supplies.  We pay tribute to all those who combat this pandemic in our countries and around the world.

5.           At our December 2019 meeting in London, we asked the Secretary General to carry out a forward-looking reflection process to further strengthen NATO’s political dimension, including consultations.  We recognise the important contribution of the independent group appointed by the Secretary General to support NATO 2030.  As a result, today we agree NATO 2030 – a transatlantic agenda for the future.  Throughout its history, NATO has continuously adapted to a changing security environment.  The NATO 2030 agenda complements and builds on our ongoing political and military adaptation, strengthens our ability to deliver on the three core tasks and contributes to making our strong Alliance even stronger and ready for the future.

6.           To that end we agree to:

• Reaffirm that NATO is the unique, essential and indispensable transatlantic forum for consultations and joint action on all matters related to our individual and collective security.  We pledge to strengthen and broaden our consultations and to ensure that NATO remains flexible and effective to conduct military operations in support of our common security.  We reaffirm the Alliance’s shared democratic principles as well as our commitment to the spirit and the letter of the North Atlantic Treaty.  We commit to reinforcing consultations when the security or stability of an Ally is threatened or when our fundamental values and principles are at risk.
• Strengthen NATO as the organising framework for the collective defence of the Euro-Atlantic area, against all threats, from all directions.  We reiterate our commitment to maintaining an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defence capabilities for deterrence and defence, and to the 2014 Defence Investment Pledge, in its entirety.  We commit to the full and speedy implementation of ongoing work to further strengthen our deterrence and defence posture, and we pledge to continue to improve the readiness of our forces and to strengthen and modernise the NATO Force Structure to meet current and future defence needs.
• Enhance our resilience.  Noting that resilience remains a national responsibility, we will adopt a more integrated and better coordinated approach, consistent with our collective commitment under Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty, to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure our militaries can effectively operate in peace, crisis and conflict.  Allies will develop a proposal to establish, assess, review and monitor resilience objectives to guide nationally-developed resilience goals and implementation plans.  It will be up to each individual Ally to determine how to establish and meet national resilience goals and implementation plans, allowing them to do so in a manner that is compatible with respective national competences, structures, processes and obligations, and where applicable those of the EU.
• Foster technological cooperation among Allies in NATO, promote interoperability and encourage the development and adoption of technological solutions to address our military needs.  For this purpose we will launch a civil-military Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic.  We also agree to establish a NATO Innovation Fund, where Allies who so wish can support start-ups working on dual-use emerging and disruptive technologies in areas key to Allied security.
• Enhance NATO’s ability to contribute to preserve and shape the rules-based international order in areas that are important to Allied security.  We will increase our dialogue and practical cooperation with existing partners, including with the European Union, aspirant countries and our partners in the Asia Pacific, and strengthen our engagement with key global actors and other new interlocutors beyond the Euro-Atlantic area, including from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• Substantially strengthen NATO’s ability to provide training and capacity building support to partners, recognising that conflict, other security developments and pervasive instability in NATO’s neighbourhood directly impact Allied security.
• Aim for NATO to become the leading international organisation when it comes to understanding and adapting to the impact of climate change on security.  We agree to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from military activities and installations without impairing personnel safety, operational effectiveness and our deterrence and defence posture.  We invite the Secretary General to formulate a realistic, ambitious and concrete target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the NATO political and military structures and facilities and assess the feasibility of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.  We will also initiate a regular high-level climate and security dialogue to exchange views and coordinate further action.
• Invite the Secretary General to lead the process to develop the next Strategic Concept.  The Concept will be negotiated and agreed by the Council in Permanent Session and endorsed by NATO Leaders at the next Summit.

7.           The NATO 2030 agenda sets a higher level of ambition for NATO.  It provides clear guidelines for further adaptation to address existing, new and future threats and challenges, building on the ongoing political and military adaptation of the Alliance.  Delivering on the NATO 2030 agenda, the three core tasks and the next Strategic Concept requires adequate resourcing through national defence expenditure and common funding.  Based on requirements, we agree to increase such resourcing, including as necessary NATO common funding starting in 2023, taking into account sustainability, affordability and accountability.  When we meet in 2022, we will agree, alongside the Strategic Concept, the specific requirements for additional funding up to 2030 and the resource implications across the NATO Military Budget, the NATO Security Investment Programme and the Civil Budget, as well as identify potential efficiency measures.

8.           NATO’s fundamental and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means.  The evolving security environment increasingly requires us to address threats and challenges through the use of military and non-military tools in a deliberate, coherent, and sustained manner.  NATO will take a tailored and structured approach.  NATO uses a variety of non-military tools which support the Alliance’s three core tasks.  It also serves as a platform for enhancing the coherent use of these tools by Allies, under their own authority and control, and alongside other international actors.  We will continue to strengthen effective, clear, and convincing strategic communication as an essential element to support all three of NATO’s core tasks.

9.           For more than twenty-five years, NATO has worked to build a partnership with Russia, including through the NATO-Russia Council (NRC).  While NATO stands by its international commitments, Russia continues to breach the values, principles, trust, and commitments outlined in agreed documents that underpin the NATO-Russia relationship.  We reaffirm our decisions towards Russia agreed at the 2014 Wales Summit and all our subsequent NATO meetings.  We have suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia, while remaining open to political dialogue.  Until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities, there can be no return to “business as usual”.  We will continue to respond to the deteriorating security environment by enhancing our deterrence and defence posture, including by a forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.  NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia.  Decisions we have taken are fully consistent with our international commitments, and therefore cannot be regarded by anyone as contradicting the NATO-Russia Founding Act.

10.         We call on Russia to rescind the designation of the Czech Republic and the United States as “unfriendly countries” and to refrain from taking any other steps inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

11.         Russia’s growing multi-domain military build-up, more assertive posture, novel military capabilities, and provocative activities, including near NATO borders, as well as its large-scale no-notice and snap exercises, the continued military build-up in Crimea, the deployment of modern dual-capable missiles in Kaliningrad, military integration with Belarus, and repeated violations of NATO Allied airspace, increasingly threaten the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and contribute to instability along NATO borders and beyond.

12.         In addition to its military activities, Russia has also intensified its hybrid actions against NATO Allies and partners, including through proxies.  This includes attempted interference in Allied elections and democratic processes; political and economic pressure and intimidation; widespread disinformation campaigns; malicious cyber activities; and turning a blind eye to cyber criminals operating from its territory, including those who target and disrupt critical infrastructure in NATO countries.  It also includes illegal and destructive activities by Russian Intelligence Services on Allied territory, some of which have claimed lives of citizens and caused widespread material damage.  We stand in full solidarity with the Czech Republic and other Allies that have been affected in this way.

13.         Russia has continued to diversify its nuclear arsenal, including by deploying a suite of short- and intermediate-range missile systems that are intended to coerce NATO.  Russia has recapitalised roughly 80 percent of its strategic nuclear forces, and it is expanding its nuclear capabilities by pursuing novel and destabilising weapons and a diverse array of dual-capable systems.  Russia continues to use aggressive and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and has increased its ongoing emphasis on destabilising conventional exercises that include dual-capable systems.  Russia’s nuclear strategy and comprehensive nuclear weapon systems modernisation, diversification, and expansion, including the qualitative and quantitative increase of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons, increasingly support a more aggressive posture of strategic intimidation.  We will continue to work closely together to address all the threats and challenges posed by Russia.

14.         We reiterate our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova within their internationally recognised borders.  In accordance with its international commitments, we call on Russia to withdraw the forces it has stationed in all three countries without their consent.  We strongly condemn and will not recognise Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and denounce its temporary occupation.  The human rights abuses and violations against the Crimean Tatars and members of other local communities must end.  Russia’s recent massive military build-up and destabilising activities in and around Ukraine have further escalated tensions and undermined security.  We call on Russia to reverse its military build-up and stop restricting navigation in parts of the Black Sea.  We also call on Russia to stop impeding access to the Sea of Azov and Ukrainian ports.  We commend Ukraine’s posture of restraint and diplomatic approach in this context.  We seek to contribute to de-escalation.  We are also stepping up our support to Ukraine.  We call for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements by all sides, and support the efforts of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group.  Russia, as a signatory of the Minsk Agreements, bears significant responsibility in this regard.  We call on Russia to stop fuelling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs in eastern Ukraine.  We reiterate our full support to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.  We stress the importance of ensuring its safety and full and unhindered access throughout the entire territory of Ukraine, including Crimea and the Russia-Ukraine border, in accordance with its mandate.  We further call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia as independent states; to implement the EU-mediated 2008 ceasefire agreement; to end its militarisation of these regions and attempts to forcibly separate them from the rest of Georgia through the continued construction of border-like obstacles; and to cease the human rights violations, arbitrary detentions, and harassments of Georgian citizens.  We reiterate our firm support to the Geneva International Discussions.  We also call on Russia to engage constructively in the Transnistria Settlement Process.  We are committed to supporting the Republic of Moldova’s democratic reforms and providing assistance through our Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative.

15.         We remain open to a periodic, focused, and meaningful dialogue with a Russia willing to engage on the basis of reciprocity in the NRC, with a view to avoiding misunderstanding, miscalculation, and unintended escalation, and to increase transparency and predictability.  NRC meetings have helped us communicate clearly our positions, and we are ready for the next meeting of the NRC.  We will continue to focus our dialogue with Russia on the critical issues we face.  The conflict in and around Ukraine is, in current circumstances, the first topic on our agenda.  NATO remains committed to making good use of the existing military lines of communication between both sides to promote predictability and transparency, and to reduce risks, and calls on Russia to do so as well.  We continue to aspire to a constructive relationship with Russia when its actions make that possible.

16.         Terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, continues to pose a direct threat to the security of our populations, and to international stability and prosperity.  We categorically reject and condemn terrorism in the strongest possible terms.  Allies will continue to fight this threat with determination, resolve, and in solidarity.  While nations retain the primary responsibility for their domestic security and their own resilience, the fight against terrorism demands a coherent, long-term effort by the international community as a whole, involving a wide range of instruments and actors.  NATO’s role in the fight against terrorism contributes to all three core tasks of the Alliance, and is an integral part of the Alliance’s 360-degree approach to deterrence and defence.  Cooperation in NATO adds value to Allies’ national efforts and capacity to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and be resilient against acts of terrorism.  We condemn all financial support of terrorism.  We also recognise the need to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.  Our approach to terrorism, and its causes, is in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and upholds all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) on the fight against terrorism.

17.         We remain fully committed to NATO’s enhanced role in the international community’s fight against terrorism, including through awareness and analysis, preparedness and responsiveness, capabilities, capacity building and partnerships, and operations.  We continue to implement our 2019 Action Plan and will update it by the end of this year, to take account of the evolving terrorist threats.  We are determined to meet our commitments under UNSCR 2396, including through NATO’s new Battlefield Evidence Policy, supported by improved information and data collection, preservation, sharing, and analysis, within NATO’s mandate.  We will continue our work to defend against improvised explosive devices and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.  We are developing capabilities to protect our forces against terrorist misuse of technology, while capitalising on emerging technologies to help us in the fight against terrorism.  We are also stepping up support to partner countries to fight terrorism themselves and deny terrorists safe haven, which in turn strengthens NATO’s own security.  NATO will also continue to engage, as appropriate, with partner countries and other international actors to ensure added value and complementarity.  NATO continues to play its part in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Da’esh, including through our Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) surveillance flights and staff-to-staff support.

18.         After almost 20 years, NATO's military operations in Afghanistan are coming to an end.  We have denied terrorists a safe haven from which to plot attacks against us, helped Afghanistan to build its security institutions, and trained, advised, and assisted the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces; they are now taking on full responsibility for security in their country.  We pay tribute to those who have lost their lives or have been wounded, and express our deep appreciation to all the men and women who have served under the NATO flag, and to their families.

19.         Withdrawing our troops does not mean ending our relationship with Afghanistan.  We will now open a new chapter.  We affirm our commitment to continue to stand with Afghanistan, its people, and its institutions in promoting security and upholding the hard-won gains of the last 20 years.  Recalling our previous commitments, NATO will continue to provide training and financial support to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, including through the Afghan National Army Trust Fund.  NATO will retain a Senior Civilian Representative's Office in Kabul to continue diplomatic engagement and enhance our partnership with Afghanistan.  Recognising its importance to an enduring diplomatic and international presence, as well as to Afghanistan's connectivity with the world, NATO will provide transitional funding to ensure continued functioning of Hamid Karzai International Airport.  We will also step up dialogue on Afghanistan with relevant international and regional partners.  We continue to support the ongoing Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process, and call on all stakeholders to help Afghanistan foster a lasting inclusive political settlement that puts an end to violence; safeguards the human rights of Afghans, particularly women, children, and minorities; upholds the rule of law; and ensures that Afghanistan never again serves as a safe haven for terrorists.

20.         NATO remains a leading and active contributor to international security through operations, missions, and activities.  We are grateful to our partners for their substantial contributions to these efforts.  NATO and Allies support Iraq in its fight against ISIS/Da’esh and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.  We commend the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces for their continued efforts to combat ISIS/Da’esh.  Based on a request from the Iraqi Government, we will strengthen our support to Iraq through our NATO Mission Iraq.  We will broaden our non-combat advisory, training, and capacity building mission to support Iraq in building more effective, sustainable, accountable, and inclusive security institutions and forces.  This expansion of NATO Mission Iraq, including additional support to the Iraqi security institutions, will be demand-driven, incremental, scalable, and based on conditions on the ground.  It will be carried out with the full consent of the Iraqi authorities, in full respect of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in close coordination with relevant partners and international actors, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Da’esh, the United Nations, and the European Union.

21.         Deterrence and defence are at the heart of the Alliance, underpinned by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and an enduring transatlantic bond.  We are united and resolute in our ability and commitment to defend one another.  We will maintain and further develop the full range of ready forces and capabilities necessary to ensure credible deterrence and defence and provide the Alliance with a wide range of options to tailor our response to specific circumstances and to respond to any threats, from state and non-state actors, from wherever they arise, and potentially from multiple directions in more than one region simultaneously.  While reaffirming our commitment to the three core tasks, we have placed a renewed emphasis on collective defence, and have also ensured that NATO retains the ability to project stability and fight against terrorism.

22.         We welcome the significant progress already made to implement our previous decisions to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture and reaffirm our commitment to their full and speedy implementation.  We have accelerated our military adaptation with increased defence spending, modern capabilities, enhanced political and military responsiveness, and higher readiness of our forces .  NATO is taking forward a new military strategy through the implementation of two significant military concepts that will further strengthen our ability to deter and defend against any potential adversary and to maintain and develop our military advantage now and in the future.  The deterrence and defence concept provides a single, coherent framework to contest and deter and defend against the Alliance’s main threats in a multi-domain environment, and will strengthen our preparedness to address challenges, particularly pervasive instability and strategic shocks.  The warfighting concept provides a long-term vision for maintaining and developing NATO’s decisive military edge.  The implementation of the deterrence and defence concept will guide enhanced advance planning to respond to potential crisis and conflict, as well as further improve the use and organisation of Allied forces and capabilities in all operational domains and ensure more effective command and control.  We are developing strategic, domain-specific and regional military plans to improve our ability to respond to any contingencies and ensure timely reinforcement.  We will emphasise persistent activities in peacetime to support deterrence, including through the presence and dynamic posture of our military forces and exercises, based on enhanced coordination amongst Allies and NATO.  Through the implementation of the warfighting concept, we will ensure that the Alliance continuously develops its military and technological advantage, as the character of conflict evolves.  We commit to the full implementation of these new concepts, and to taking the necessary steps to enhance the coherence between relevant national and NATO activities and plans and the concepts.

23.         We commit to further strengthening and modernising the NATO Force Structure to meet current and future deterrence and defence needs.  We will ensure a flexible, agile, and resilient multi-domain force architecture with the right forces in the right place at the right time.  We will strengthen modern command and control tailored to support our 360-degree posture, dynamic force management, improved response system, and plans.  In doing so, we will place increased emphasis on the interdependence of geography, domains, and readiness.  As part of these overall efforts, we are committed to continue increasing the readiness of our forces and the Alliance’s rapid response capability, including through the ongoing implementation of the NATO Readiness Initiative, which is designed to strengthen the culture of readiness and help to provide forces at 30 days readiness or less.  We have sourced all the combat forces of the NATO Readiness Initiative with 30 major naval combatants, 30 heavy or medium manoeuvre battalions, and 30 kinetic air squadrons.  They are being organised and trained as larger combat formations for reinforcement and high-intensity warfighting, or for rapid military crisis intervention.

24.         We will ensure that the NATO Command Structure is robust, resilient, and able to undertake all elements of effective command and control for simultaneous challenges across all domains and the full spectrum of missions, including large-scale operations for collective defence.  Our two new commands, Joint Force Command Norfolk headquarters and Joint Support and Enabling Command, as well as the Cyberspace Operations Centre, have achieved Initial Operational Capability.  Allied contributions to command and control through the NATO Force Structure and national headquarters as well as their strengthened relationship with the NATO Command Structure, including by providing host nation support, remain essential to improve the Alliance’s regional understanding, vigilance, and ability to rapidly respond to any threat from any direction.

25.         We will not be constrained by any potential adversary as regards the freedom of movement of Allied forces by land, air, or sea to and within any part of Alliance territory.  Our deterrence and defence posture is underpinned by credible forces, both in-place and ready for reinforcement within Europe and from across the Atlantic.  We will continue to strengthen and regularly exercise the Alliance’s ability to rapidly reinforce any Ally that comes under threat.  We will continue to give high priority, both nationally and in the Alliance, to ensuring enablement of SACEUR’s Area of Responsibility to improve our ability to support the deployment and sustainment of Allied forces into, across, and from the entire Alliance territory.  These efforts include taking forward our work on fuel supply distribution arrangements.  We reiterate that NATO’s efforts to ensure a coherent approach and synergies with the EU in the area of military mobility should be pursued, including with regard to military mobility related procedures that should apply to all Allies equally.  We continue to reinforce our maritime posture and to protect our sea lines of communication.  We welcome the establishment of the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence in Turkey.  We will maintain awareness of any potential threats to our critical undersea infrastructure and will continue to address them nationally and, where needed, collectively.  We welcome the Full Operational Capability of NATO’s Rapid Air Mobility which was activated and utilised by Allies for relief flights carrying critical supplies to Allies and partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

26.         We reaffirm our commitment to respond in a measured, balanced, coordinated, and timely way to Russia’s growing and evolving array of conventional and nuclear-capable missiles, which is increasing in scale and complexity and which poses significant risks from all strategic directions to security and stability across the Euro-Atlantic area.  We will continue to implement a coherent and balanced package of political and military measures to achieve Alliance objectives, including strengthened integrated air and missile defence; advanced defensive and offensive conventional capabilities; steps to keep NATO’s nuclear deterrent safe, secure, and effective; efforts to support and strengthen arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation; intelligence; and exercises.  We have no intention to deploy land-based nuclear missiles in Europe.

27.         NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) is an essential and continuous mission in peacetime, crisis, and times of conflict, which contributes to deterrence and defence and the indivisible security and freedom of action of the Alliance, including NATO's capability to reinforce, and to provide a strategic response.  NATO IAMD incorporates all measures to contribute to deter any air and missile threat or to nullify or reduce their effectiveness.  This mission is conducted in a 360-degree approach and tailored to address all air and missile threats emanating from all strategic directions.

28.         NATO has enhanced its IAMD mission and we have taken steps to improve our IAMD forces’ readiness and responsiveness in peacetime, crisis, and times of conflict, strengthening our ability to ensure that all necessary measures are implemented for the security of the Alliance.  We are taking into account the increasingly diverse and challenging air and missile threats from state and non-state actors ranging from simple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to sophisticated hypersonic missiles.

29.         Allies will continue to work on NATO IAMD to ensure that it remains flexible and adaptive.  Allies will also continue to effectively train and exercise their IAMD forces.  Allies have committed to improving NATO IAMD capabilities, including sensors, interceptors, and command and control, in particular through the NATO Defence Planning Process.  We welcome the establishment of NATO’s new IAMD Centre of Excellence in Greece.

30.         Resilience is essential for credible deterrence and defence and the effective fulfilment of the Alliance’s core tasks.  It is a national responsibility and a collective commitment, anchored in Article 3 of the Washington Treaty.  Recognising the significant progress achieved since our Resilience Commitment at the 2016 Warsaw Summit, we have agreed today a Strengthened Resilience Commitment that sets out further steps we intend to take in the coming years.  We will continue to take a whole-of-government approach to enhancing the resilience of our societies, and achieving the seven NATO Baseline Requirements for national resilience, through enhanced civil-military cooperation and civil preparedness; closer engagement with our populations, the private sector, and non-governmental actors; and the centres of expertise on resilience established by Allies.  We welcome the establishment of the Euro-Atlantic Centre for Resilience in Romania.  NATO and Allies, within their respective authority, will maintain and enhance the security of our critical infrastructure, key industries, supply chains, and communication information networks, including 5G.  NATO will further strengthen its own resilience, ensuring our ability to consult, decide, and act together.  We will continue to work closely with our partners and other international organisations engaged in similar efforts in order to make the Euro-Atlantic area and our broader neighbourhood more secure.

31.         Our nations continue to face threats and challenges from both state and non-state actors who use hybrid activities to target our political institutions, our public opinion, and the security of our citizens.  While the primary responsibility for responding to hybrid threats rests with the targeted nation, NATO is ready, upon Council decision, to assist an Ally at any stage of a hybrid campaign being conducted against it, including by deploying a Counter Hybrid Support Team.  In cases of hybrid warfare, the Council could decide to invoke Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, as in the case of an armed attack.  NATO and Allies will continue to prepare for, deter, and defend against hybrid threats.  Individual Allies may consider, when appropriate, attributing hybrid activities and responding in a coordinated manner, recognising attribution is a sovereign national prerogative.  We are enhancing our situational awareness and expanding the tools at our disposal to counter hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns, by developing comprehensive preventive and response options.  We will also continue to support our partners as they strengthen their resilience in the face of hybrid challenges.

32.         Cyber threats to the security of the Alliance are complex, destructive, coercive, and becoming ever more frequent.  This has been recently illustrated by ransomware incidents and other malicious cyber activity targeting our critical infrastructure and democratic institutions, which might have systemic effects and cause significant harm.  To face this evolving challenge, we have today endorsed NATO’s Comprehensive Cyber Defence Policy, which will support NATO’s three core tasks and overall deterrence and defence posture, and further enhance our resilience.  Reaffirming NATO’s defensive mandate, the Alliance is determined to employ the full range of capabilities at all times to actively deter, defend against, and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats, including those conducted as part of hybrid campaigns, in accordance with international law.  We reaffirm that a decision as to when a cyber attack would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis.  Allies recognise that the impact of significant malicious cumulative cyber activities might, in certain circumstances, be considered as amounting to an armed attack.  We remain committed to act in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law as applicable.  We will promote a free, open, peaceful, and secure cyberspace, and further pursue efforts to enhance stability and reduce the risk of conflict by supporting international law and voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.  We will make greater use of NATO as a platform for political consultation among Allies, sharing concerns about malicious cyber activities, and exchanging national approaches and responses, as well as considering possible collective responses.  If necessary, we will impose costs on those who harm us.  Our response need not be restricted to the cyber domain.  We will enhance our situational awareness to support NATO’s decision-making.  Resilience and the ability to detect, prevent, mitigate, and respond to vulnerabilities and intrusions is critical, as demonstrated by malicious cyber actors’ exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic.  NATO as an organisation will therefore continue to adapt and improve its cyber defences.  Five years since the adoption of our Cyber Defence Pledge, we remain committed to uphold strong national cyber defences as a matter of priority.  We continue to implement cyberspace as a domain of operations.   We will enhance the effective integration of sovereign cyber effects, provided voluntarily by Allies, into collective defence and Alliance operations and missions, in the framework of strong political oversight.  We will further seek to develop mutually beneficial and effective partnerships as appropriate, including with partner countries, international organisations, industry, and academia, furthering our efforts to enhance international stability in cyberspace.  We welcome the recent opening of the NATO Communications and Information Academy in Portugal.

33.         We recognise the growing importance of space for the security and prosperity of our nations and for NATO’s deterrence and defence.  Secure access to space services, products, and capabilities is essential for the conduct of the Alliance’s operations, missions and activities.  We will accelerate our work to deepen and expand our use of space as an operational domain, including through the NATO Space Centre in Germany and the upcoming establishment of the Space Centre of Excellence in France, which we welcome.  We will strengthen NATO’s space domain awareness and better integrate space in our activities, including training and exercises, resilience, and innovation efforts.  Consistent with the Overarching Space Policy, NATO's approach to space will remain fully in line with international law.  We support the international efforts to promote responsible behaviour in space.  We consider that attacks to, from, or within space present a clear challenge to the security of the Alliance, the impact of which could threaten national and Euro-Atlantic prosperity, security, and stability, and could be as harmful to modern societies as a conventional attack.  Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5.  A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis.

34.         We continue to stand and act together in response to the challenging security environment.  As it continues to evolve, the Alliance will continue to respond and adapt as necessary.  Since the Warsaw Summit, we have established a forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.  We continue to improve our enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland through alignment with plans and by ensuring the ability of the four combat-ready battlegroups to operate with national home defence forces in an integrated manner.  We have increased our contributions to our tailored Forward Presence on land, at sea, and in the air in the Black Sea region, and we remain committed to its full implementation.   Our assurance measures, including exercises and various other air, land, and maritime activities, remain in place and continue to provide the fundamental baseline requirement for assurance and deterrence.  We have increased our contributions to our tailored assurance measures for Turkey, and we remain committed to their full implementation.  We have a range of forces, including the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, which are ready to deploy on short notice to respond to any contingencies and reinforce Allies.  The full implementation of NATO’s Framework for the South, as an enduring component of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, is ongoing.  Building on the progress achieved since 2016, including the establishment of the Hub for the South, we will continue to strengthen our capacity to deal with the threats and challenges emanating from the South, including in the Mediterranean Sea region and its approaches, by enhancing our strategic awareness, our plans, and the readiness of our forces.  In the High North, we will continue to undertake necessary, calibrated, and coordinated activities in support of the Alliance’s security interests.  We will seek to strengthen cooperation with relevant and like-minded partners in the interests of NATO’s agreed deterrence and defence objectives, in line with NATO’s decisions, policies and procedures, as appropriate, and with consideration of political implications.

35.         We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all aspects of the Defence Investment Pledge agreed at the 2014 Wales Summit.  Fair burden sharing underpins the Alliance’s cohesion, solidarity, credibility, and ability to fulfil our fundamental Article 3 and Article 5 commitments.  We are, individually and collectively, committed to further improving the balance of sharing the costs and responsibilities of Alliance membership.  We have made considerable progress since the Wales Summit with seven consecutive years of real growth in non-US defence expenditure, which reinforces our shared responsibility to provide capabilities to the Alliance.  All Allies have increased the amount they spend on defence in real terms and this trend is set to continue.  Since 2014, European Allies and Canada will have added 260 billion US dollars by the end of this year.  Furthermore, ten Allies are expected to spend 2% or more of GDP on defence this year.  About two-thirds of Allies plan to reach or exceed the 2% guideline by 2024.  Additionally, 24 Allies are spending more than 20% of their defence expenditures on major equipment, including related research and development, and, according to their national plans, 27 Allies will meet the 20% guideline by 2024.  Our overall security and defence depend both on how much we spend and how we spend it.  Allies continue to make valuable force and capability contributions that benefit the security of the Euro-Atlantic area through NATO’s operations, missions, and other activities, as well as through the operations and missions conducted under national authority and the authority of other organisations.  Allies invest considerable resources in preparing their forces, capabilities, and infrastructure for Alliance activities and Allies’ operations.  In the years ahead, in line with the Defence Investment Pledge and building on the good progress to date, we affirm our commitment to continue our efforts as a matter of priority across the three pillars of cash, capabilities, and contributions.  We must and will do more.

36.         We are investing in our military capabilities in order to meet new and enduring challenges across all operational domains.  We continue to deliver an array of robust and sophisticated capabilities across all domains, including heavier, more high-end, technologically advanced, better-supported forces and capabilities at the required readiness.  We will continue to improve and adapt the sustainability, deployability, and interoperability of our capabilities for a demanding strategic environment, as well as high-end operations.  Our national capability development plans will support the full and timely implementation of the capabilities, in particular those required by the Alliance in line with the NATO Defence Planning Process.  In light of the pace, breadth, and scale of technological developments, as we further develop our forces and capabilities, we recognise the vital importance of research and development and innovation to exploit the opportunities and to address the challenges posed by emerging and disruptive technologies.  This will help to ensure, individually and collectively, our technological edge now and in the future.  We continue working to address, as appropriate, existing dependencies on Russian-sourced legacy military equipment through national efforts and multinational cooperation.  We welcome the modernisation of the NATO AWACS fleet and the progress of the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control programme, as well as the initial operations of the new Alliance Ground Surveillance Force.  Through NATO-supported multinational cooperation projects, Allies are committed to working together to develop or acquire new capabilities in key areas such as air-to-air refuelling, training, precision strike, munitions, air defence, CBRN defence, autonomous systems, and next-generation rotorcraft capability.

37.         The speed of technological change has never been higher, creating both new opportunities and risks in the security environment and to the way NATO operates.  We are determined to preserve our technological edge, and ensure Alliance interoperability, in order to maintain the credibility of our deterrence and defence posture.  We have recently taken important steps to that end, building on the Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs) Roadmap we agreed in 2019, and have now adopted our strategy to foster and protect EDTs.  This strategy outlines a clear approach for identifying, developing, and adopting EDTs at the speed of relevance, guided by principles of responsible use, in accordance with international law, and taking into account discussions in relevant international fora.  Moreover, this strategy seeks to preserve our interoperability; safeguard our sensitive technologies; and actively address the threats and challenges posed by technological developments by others, both now and in the future.  Drawing on the extensive innovation expertise of all 30 Allies, we will further leverage our partnerships, including with the private sector and academia, to maintain our technological edge.

38.         The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territory and our populations against attack, as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.  No one should doubt NATO's resolve if the security of any of its members were to be threatened.  Faced with a highly diverse, complex, and demanding international security environment, NATO is determined to maintain the full range of capabilities necessary to deter and defend against any threat to the safety and security of our populations, wherever it should arise.

39.         Credible deterrence and defence is essential as a means to prevent conflict and war and will continue to be based on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional, and missile defence capabilities.  A robust deterrence and defence posture strengthens Alliance cohesion and provides an essential political and military transatlantic link, through an equitable and sustainable distribution of roles, responsibilities, and burdens.  We acknowledge the increasingly challenging security environment with risks arising from changes in the posture, doctrine, and behaviour of potential adversaries and their significant investments to develop, modernise, and expand capabilities.  NATO continues to adapt and remains steadfast in its resolve to take all necessary steps to ensure that its deterrence and defence posture remains credible, coherent, resilient, and adaptable to the security environment.

40.         Allies’ goal is to continue to bolster deterrence as a core element of our collective defence and to contribute to the indivisible security of the Alliance.  As long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance.  In response to the more challenging security environment, NATO has taken steps to ensure its nuclear deterrent capabilities remain safe, secure, and effective.  The strategic forces of the Alliance, particularly those of the United States, are the supreme guarantee of the security of Allies.  The independent strategic nuclear forces of the United Kingdom and France have a deterrent role of their own and contribute significantly to the overall security of the Alliance.  These Allies’ separate centres of decision-making contribute to deterrence by complicating the calculations of potential adversaries.  NATO's nuclear deterrence posture also relies on United States' nuclear weapons forward-deployed in Europe and the capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies concerned.  National contributions of dual-capable aircraft to NATO's nuclear deterrence mission remain central to this effort.  The Alliance reaffirms the imperative to ensure the broadest possible participation by Allies concerned in the agreed nuclear burden-sharing arrangements to demonstrate Alliance unity and resolve.  Allies concerned will continue to drive forward progress on sustaining leadership focus and institutional excellence for the nuclear deterrence mission.  Allies will also continue to ensure greater coherence between conventional and nuclear components of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, strengthen effective strategic communications and enhance the effectiveness of NATO exercises to maintain and demonstrate a credible deterrence and reduce strategic risk.  NATO supports efforts towards strategic risk reduction which constitute important contributions to regional and international security.  In particular, transparency and dialogue can help avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

41.         The fundamental purpose of NATO's nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.  Given the deteriorating security environment in Europe, a credible and united nuclear Alliance is essential.  Nuclear weapons are unique.  The circumstances in which NATO might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote.  NATO reiterates that any employment of nuclear weapons against NATO would fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict.  If the fundamental security of any of its members were to be threatened, however, NATO has the capabilities and resolve to impose costs on an adversary that would be unacceptable and far outweigh the benefits that any adversary could hope to achieve.

42.         Missile defence can complement the role of nuclear weapons in deterrence; it cannot substitute them.  We reaffirm our commitment to continue to deliver a NATO Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability, to pursue the Alliance's core task of collective defence and to provide full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territory, and forces against the increasing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles.  NATO BMD is purely defensive.  The aim and political principles of NATO BMD remain unchanged from the 2010 Lisbon Summit.  These principles are the indivisibility of Allies’ security and NATO solidarity, equitable sharing of risks and burdens as well as reasonable challenge, taking into account the level of threat, affordability, and technical feasibility, and in accordance with the latest common threat assessments agreed by the Alliance.  Should international efforts reduce the threats posed by ballistic missile proliferation, NATO missile defence can and will adapt accordingly.

43.         NATO BMD is based on voluntary national contributions, including the US European Phased Adaptive Approach assets in Romania, Turkey, Spain, and Poland, as well as the NATO BMD command and control, the only component eligible for common funding.  Additional voluntary national contributions will provide robustness.  We are committed to completing additional essential components of NATO BMD command and control, which is necessary for achieving the next major milestone before reaching the Full Operational Capability.  Full Allied political control and oversight are essential, and full implementation will be ensured and monitored.  We will continue to engage with third states on a case-by-case basis to enhance transparency, build mutual confidence, and increase ballistic missile defence effectiveness.

44.         NATO BMD is not directed against Russia and will not undermine Russia's strategic deterrence.  NATO BMD is intended to defend against potential threats emanating from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.  We have explained to Russia many times that the BMD system is not capable against Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent and there is no intention to redesign this system to have such a capability in the future.  Hence, Russian statements threatening to target Allies because of NATO BMD are unacceptable and counterproductive.  Should Russia be ready to discuss BMD with NATO, and subject to Alliance agreement, NATO remains open to the discussion.

45.         Arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation have made and should continue to make an essential contribution to achieving the Alliance’s security objectives and for ensuring strategic stability and our collective security.  NATO has a long track record of doing its part on disarmament and non-proliferation.  After the end of the Cold War, NATO dramatically reduced the number of nuclear weapons stationed in Europe and its reliance on nuclear weapons in NATO strategy.  We regret that the conditions for achieving disarmament have not been realised since the 2018 Brussels NATO Summit.  Allies remain collectively determined to uphold and support existing disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation agreements and commitments.  We will further strengthen arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security, taking into account the prevailing security environment.   We welcome and fully support the agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation to extend the New START Treaty for five years.  NATO Allies believe the New START Treaty contributes to international stability, and Allies again express their strong support for its continued implementation and for early and active dialogue on ways to improve strategic stability.  Allies will welcome new strategic talks between the United States and Russia on future arms control measures, taking into account all Allies’ security.  Allies will support further arms control negotiations, with the aim of improving the security of the Alliance, taking into account the prevailing international security environment.

46.         NATO remains clear-eyed about the challenges Russia poses, including the qualitative and quantitative increase of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons.  The Alliance will be guided by experience, not least Russia’s material breach of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which ultimately led to the termination of that agreement.  NATO will continue to respond in a measured and responsible way to the significant risks posed by the Russian 9M729 missile, and other short- and intermediate-range missiles, to Allied security.  We have agreed a balanced, coordinated, and defensive package of measures to ensure NATO's deterrence and defence posture remains credible and effective, including through potential arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation contributions.  Russia’s proposal for a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in Europe is inconsistent with Russia’s unilateral and ongoing deployment of such systems on the continent and would not prevent Russia from building up such missiles outside of its European territory; this proposal is therefore not credible and not acceptable.  At the same time, NATO Allies remain open to meaningful arms control discussions and dialogue on reciprocal transparency and confidence-building measures that would take into account security interests of all Allies and increase security across the Alliance.

47.         The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) remains the essential bulwark against the spread of nuclear weapons, the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, and the framework for international cooperation in sharing the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, science, and technology.  Allies remain strongly committed to the full implementation of the NPT in all its aspects, as an irreplaceable platform, and the strengthening of the NPT across its mutually reinforcing three pillars.  We are committed to working towards a meaningful outcome at the upcoming Tenth Review Conference, which presents a major opportunity to contribute to the preservation, universalisation, and full implementation of the NPT.  The Alliance reaffirms its resolve to seek a safer world for all and to take further practical steps and effective measures to create the conditions for further nuclear disarmament negotiations.  NATO Allies support the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons in full accordance with all provisions of the NPT, including Article VI, in an ever more effective and verifiable way that promotes international stability, and is based on the principle of undiminished security for all.  NATO's nuclear arrangements have always been fully consistent with the NPT, which remains the only credible path to nuclear disarmament.  The enduring success of the NPT cannot be taken for granted and requires sustained effort to further its achievements.  In this spirit, we call on all NPT States Parties to work together towards a successful Tenth Review Conference.  We reiterate our opposition to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which is inconsistent with the Alliance’s nuclear deterrence policy, is at odds with the existing non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, risks undermining the NPT, and does not take into account the current security environment.  The TPNW does not change the legal obligations on our countries with respect to nuclear weapons.  We do not accept any argument that the TPNW reflects or in any way contributes to the development of customary international law.  We call on our partners and all other countries to reflect realistically on the ban treaty’s impact on international peace and security, including on the NPT, and join us in working to improve collective security through tangible and verifiable measures that can reduce strategic risks and enable lasting progress on nuclear disarmament.

48.         While NATO is not itself party to any arms control agreement, Allies will make best use of NATO as an important platform for in-depth discussion and close consultations on arms control efforts that will support Alliance unity, political cohesion, and solidarity.  We continue actively to address the collapse of the INF Treaty due to Russian actions, and we are committed to maintain appropriate consultations among Allies on these issues.

49.         We remain deeply concerned by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD), as well as their means of delivery and related materials, by states and non-state actors, which represents a growing threat to our populations, territory, and forces.  We condemn in the strongest possible terms the repeated use of chemical weapons in Syria, as well as use in Iraq, Russia, Malaysia, and, for the first time since NATO’s foundation on Allied territory, the United Kingdom.  The use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, for any reason is unacceptable.  There can be no impunity for those who use chemical weapons.  We therefore welcome, as an important step towards accountability, the decision by the April 2021 Conference of the State Parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to suspend Syria’s rights and privileges under the CWC.  We are determined to uphold the CWC and the global norm against the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons, and to hold those who use chemical weapons accountable for their actions, including through our joint commitment within the International Partnership Against the Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons.  We support the full implementation of the CWC and the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in addressing WMD threats and condemn those who seek to impede its work.  NATO remains committed to ensuring that Allies can protect their populations, forces, and territories against CBRN threats, including through reviewing NATO’s Comprehensive, Strategic Level Policy for Preventing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Defending against CBRN Threats.  We are united in our resolve to promote the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.  We underline the need to bring the treaty into force and we support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission, including the International Data Centre and International Monitoring System.  We call for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive devices in accordance with Conference on Disarmament report CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein.  In the meantime, the Alliance calls on all states to declare and maintain voluntary moratoria on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

50.          We remain committed to conventional arms control as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security.  We are determined to preserve, strengthen, and modernise conventional arms control in Europe, based on key principles and commitments, including reciprocity, transparency, and host nation consent.  Russia’s continuing aggressive military posture, its refusal to fully comply with its obligations under the Treaty on Open Skies, its ongoing selective implementation of the Vienna Document, and its long-standing failure to implement the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, continue to undermine security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.  Allies call on Russia to return to full implementation of, and compliance with the letter and spirit of all of its international obligations and commitments, which is essential to rebuilding trust and confidence, military transparency and increasing predictability in the Euro-Atlantic region.  We specifically call on Russia to be open and transparent about its no-notice snap exercises, large-scale exercises and large-scale troop movements, in accordance with its Vienna Document commitments, particularly in light of its recent unprovoked and unjustified military build-up in and around Ukraine.  Allies underscore the importance of modernising the Vienna Document, and welcome the broad support for its comprehensive modernisation package.  We look forward to intensified discussions in the Forum for Security Cooperation leading to consensus on an updated Vienna Document at the 2021 OSCE Ministerial.  To maintain the contributions of the Treaty on Open Skies to the security of all State Parties, it is essential that all State Parties fully implement its provisions.  We will continue to actively support ongoing discussions at the OSCE, including the Structured Dialogue.  We call on Russia to engage constructively on all these efforts.

51.         We reiterate the Alliance’s full support to the goal of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea, in accordance with relevant UNSCRs.  We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to engage in meaningful negotiations with the United States towards achieving this goal.  We urge the DPRK to fully implement its international obligations; to eliminate its nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare capabilities and ballistic missiles; to return to the NPT and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and to abandon all related programmes.  We call on nations to fully implement existing UN sanctions.

52.          We are committed to ensuring that Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon.  We welcome the substantive discussions between Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) participants, and separately with the United States, to accomplish a mutual return to compliance with the JCPoA by the United States and Iran.  We support the goal of restoring the non-proliferation benefits of the JCPoA and of ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.  It is vital that Iran preserves the space for these discussions by avoiding any further escalation.  We strongly support the IAEA in its crucial monitoring and verification work to help ensure Iran’s compliance with the NPT-related safeguards obligations, as well as its other commitments.  A restored and fully implemented JCPoA could also pave the way to further address regional and security concerns, including in support of the non-proliferation regime.  We condemn Iran’s support to proxy forces and non-state armed actors, including through financing, training, and the proliferation of missile technology and weapons.  We call on Iran to stop all ballistic missile activities inconsistent with UNSCR 2231, refrain from destabilising actions, and play a constructive role in fostering regional stability and peace.

Syria retains an inventory of short-range ballistic missiles whose range covers parts of NATO’s territory and some of our partners’ territories.  Syria has used these missiles extensively against its own population.  We remain vigilant over missile launches from Syria which could again hit or target Turkey.   We continue to monitor and assess the ballistic missile threat from Syria.

The increasing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles in the vicinity of the south-eastern border of the Alliance has been, and remains a driver in NATO’s development and deployment of a ballistic missile defence system, which is configured to counter threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

53.         The conflict in Syria has entered its eleventh year and continues to have significant consequences on the stability of the region and the security of NATO’s south-eastern border.  We remain concerned and vigilant over its ramifications.  We reiterate our determination to defend NATO territory and borders against any threats and to address challenges emanating from Syria.  The presidential elections held on 26 May 2021 by the Syrian regime cannot be considered as free and fair and do not contribute to the efforts to achieve a political solution.  We underline that stability and security cannot be reinstated in Syria without a genuine political process in line with UNSCR 2254.  We call for a nationwide ceasefire and the reauthorisation and expansion of the UN cross-border humanitarian assistance for a period of at least 12 months in order to meet the needs of the Syrian people.  We reiterate our appreciation to our Ally Turkey for hosting millions of Syrian refugees.

54.         Allies remain deeply concerned about developments in Belarus since August 2020.  The policies and actions of Belarus have implications for regional stability and have violated the principles which underpin our partnership.  NATO will remain vigilant of and monitor the implications for the security of the Alliance.  The unacceptable diversion of a civilian aircraft in May 2021 and the subsequent arrest of a journalist and his partner travelling on board endangered the safety of civilians and was a grave affront to political dissent and freedom of the press.  We support the independent investigations, including by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  We support measures taken by Allies individually and collectively in response to this incident.  We call on Belarus to abide by international law, respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including those belonging to the Union of Poles in Belarus.  A democratic, sovereign, and stable Belarus is in all of our interests.  Allies stand ready for a mutually beneficial NATO-Belarus partnership, taking into account political and security conditions.  We will follow the scale, scope, and aftermath of the Zapad-2021 exercise, and continue to call on Russia and Belarus to act in a predictable, transparent way in compliance with their international obligations and OSCE commitments.

55.         China's stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security.  We are concerned by those coercive policies which stand in contrast to the fundamental values enshrined in the Washington Treaty.  China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and a larger number of sophisticated delivery systems to establish a nuclear triad.  It is opaque in implementing its military modernisation and its publicly declared military-civil fusion strategy.  It is also cooperating militarily with Russia, including through participation in Russian exercises in the Euro-Atlantic area.  We remain concerned with China’s frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation.  We call on China to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system, including in the space, cyber, and maritime domains, in keeping with its role as a major power.

56.         NATO maintains a constructive dialogue with China where possible.  Based on our interests, we welcome opportunities to engage with China on areas of relevance to the Alliance and on common challenges such as climate change.  There is value in information exchange on respective policies and activities, to enhance awareness and discuss potential disagreements.  Allies urge China to engage meaningfully in dialogue, confidence-building, and transparency measures regarding its nuclear capabilities and doctrine.  Reciprocal transparency and understanding would benefit both NATO and China.

57.         We are working together as an Alliance and with like-minded partners, in particular with the European Union, to protect critical infrastructure, strengthen resilience, maintain our technological edge, and address these challenges to the rules-based international order.

58.         Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our times.  It is a threat multiplier that impacts Allied security, both in the Euro-Atlantic area and in the Alliance’s broader neighbourhood.  Climate change puts our resilience and civil preparedness to the test, affects our planning and the resilience of our military installations and critical infrastructure, and may create harsher conditions for our operations.  Today we have endorsed an Action Plan to implement our NATO Agenda on Climate Change and Security, which increases our awareness, adaptation, mitigation, and outreach efforts, while ensuring a credible deterrence and defence posture and upholding the priorities of the safety of military personnel and operational and cost effectiveness.  To increase awareness, NATO will conduct annual assessments of the impact of climate change on its strategic environment as well as on missions and operations.  To adapt to climate change, NATO will incorporate climate change considerations into its full spectrum of work, ranging from defence planning and capability development to civil preparedness and exercises.  To contribute to the mitigation of climate change, drawing on best practices of Allies, and taking into account their different national circumstances, NATO will develop a mapping methodology to help Allies measure greenhouse gas emissions from military activities and installations, which could contribute to formulating voluntary goals to reduce such emissions.  NATO will also strengthen exchanges with partner countries as well as with international and regional organisations that are active on climate change and security issues.

59.         Energy security plays an important role in our common security.  A stable and reliable energy supply, the diversification of routes, suppliers, and energy resources, including the integration of sustainable energy sources, and the interconnectivity of energy networks, are all of critical importance and increase our resilience against political and economic pressure.  It is essential to ensure that the members of the Alliance are not vulnerable to political or coercive manipulation of energy, which constitutes a potential threat.  Allies will therefore continue to seek further diversification of their energy supplies, in line with their needs and conditions.  While these issues are primarily the responsibility of national authorities, energy developments can have significant political and security implications for Allies and also affect our partners.  Consequently, we will continue to enhance our strategic awareness, including through regular Allied consultations and intelligence sharing, and will strengthen our links with relevant international organisations.  We will further develop NATO’s capacity to support national authorities in protecting critical infrastructure, including against malicious hybrid and cyber activity.  We will ensure reliable energy supplies to our military forces.

60.         NATO has long recognised the importance of Human Security, which focuses on risks and threats to populations in conflict or crisis areas and how to mitigate and respond to them.  Taking a Human Security approach is a reflection of our values and makes us more operationally effective.  We are committed to ensuring that all efforts are made to avoid, minimise, and mitigate any potential negative effects on civilians arising from our missions or activities, as underscored in our Policy for the Protection of Civilians.  Today, we endorse NATO’s new Policy on Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, a landmark demonstration of our commitment to addressing such violence, which inflicts long-term stigma and trauma on individuals and families, contributes to their marginalisation, destroys the social fabric of communities, triggers displacement, fuels armed actors’ activities, fosters prolonged conflict and instability, and is an impediment to sustainable peace and reconciliation.  We are updating our policy on combating trafficking in human beings.  Our ongoing work on Human Security also includes Children and Armed Conflict and Cultural Property Protection.  NATO will continue to work with its partners, international organisations, and civil society to further our Human Security agenda, which includes robust policies and clear operational guidelines, in support of lasting peace and security and our populations’ common defence.

61.         Recognising the critical importance of women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and stability, as well as the disproportionate impact that conflict has on women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence, we are committed to fully implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda set out by the UN Security Council.  NATO’s Policy and Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security better prepare the Alliance to address the challenges of today and tomorrow.  NATO’s Policy on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, agreed in 2019, reinforces our commitment to hold ourselves to the highest standards of behaviour, in keeping with our values.  Working together with partners, international organisations, and civil society, we will consistently continue to implement our policy on Women, Peace and Security, and, in this context, we will advance gender equality and integrate gender perspectives and foster the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in all that we do, including in NATO operations, missions, and activities.

62.         We remain committed to NATO’s Building Integrity Policy and Programme.  Corruption and poor governance undermine democracy, the rule of law, and economic development, thus constituting challenges to our security.  Implementing measures to improve integrity building, to fight against corruption, and to foster good governance is of continued importance for NATO, Allies, and partners alike.

63.         NATO’s partnerships are, and will continue to be, essential to the way NATO works.  The success of NATO’s partnerships is demonstrated by their strategic contribution to Alliance and international security.  They play an important role in supporting NATO’s three core tasks and our 360-degree security approach.  They are central to advancing NATO’s cooperative security agenda, helping to shape our security environment, and contributing to stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, and to the pursuit of NATO’s political and military objectives.  We remain committed to the principles underpinning our relations with our partners, and have taken steps to make our partnerships more strategic, more coherent, and more effective.  The Alliance’s partner relationships are also based on reciprocity, mutual benefit and mutual respect.  We will strengthen political dialogue and practical cooperation with our partners.  We are grateful to our partners for their significant contributions to NATO’s situational awareness, operations, missions, and activities, including Trust Fund projects.  We recognise their sacrifices for Euro-Atlantic and international security over the years.  We will continue to improve interoperability, in particular with our Enhanced Opportunities Partners.  Recognising that conflict and instability in NATO’s neighbourhood directly undermine Allied security, we will continue to intensify NATO’s assistance and capacity building support to our partners.  We reaffirm our commitment to expand political dialogue and practical cooperation with any nation that shares the Alliance’s values and interest in international peace and security and will further develop our partnerships so that they continue to meet the interests of both Allies and partners.  In line with our Comprehensive Approach Action Plan, we will continue to pursue coherence within NATO's own tools and strands of work, concerted approaches with partner nations and organisations such as the UN, the EU, and the OSCE, as well as further dialogue with non-governmental organisations.

64.          The European Union remains a unique and essential partner for NATO.  The NATO-EU strategic partnership is essential for the security and prosperity of our nations and of the Euro-Atlantic area.  NATO recognises the importance of a stronger and more capable European defence.  The development of coherent, complementary and interoperable defence capabilities, avoiding unnecessary duplication, is key in our joint efforts to make the Euro-Atlantic area safer.  Such efforts, including recent developments, will lead to a stronger NATO, help enhance our common security, contribute to transatlantic burden sharing, help deliver needed capabilities, and support an overall increase in defence spending.  Non-EU Allies continue to make significant contributions to the EU's efforts to strengthen its capacities to address common security challenges.  For the strategic partnership between NATO and the EU, non-EU Allies’ fullest involvement in these efforts is essential.  We look forward to mutual steps, representing tangible progress, in this area to support a strengthened strategic partnership.  We reaffirm in their entirety all the decisions, principles, and commitments with regard to NATO and EU cooperation.  We will continue to further strengthen our strategic partnership in a spirit of full mutual openness, transparency, complementarity, and respect for the organisations’ different mandates, decision-making autonomy and institutional integrity, and as agreed by the two organisations.

65.         NATO-EU cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, with tangible results in countering hybrid and cyber threats, strategic communication, operational cooperation including maritime issues, military mobility, defence capabilities, defence industry and research, exercises, counter-terrorism, and defence and security capacity building.  Political dialogue between NATO and the EU remains essential to advance this cooperation.  We will continue to develop and deepen our cooperation by fully implementing the common set of 74 proposals, which contribute to the coherence and complementarity of our efforts.  The current strategic environment and the COVID pandemic underscore the importance of NATO-EU cooperation in the face of current and evolving security challenges, in particular in addressing resilience issues, emerging and disruptive technologies, the security implications of climate change, disinformation, and the growing geostrategic competition.  The ongoing distinct strategic processes within NATO and the EU offer a unique opportunity to intensify further our consultations and cooperation to enhance the security of our citizens and promote peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond, while reaffirming that NATO remains the transatlantic framework for strong collective defence and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions among Allies.  We value the Secretary General’s continued close cooperation with the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the High Representative, on all aspects of the NATO-EU strategic partnership.

66.         We reaffirm our commitment to NATO’s Open Door Policy under Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, which has been a historic success.  North Macedonia’s accession last year is yet another tangible demonstration of this commitment.  Successive rounds of enlargement have strengthened Euro-Atlantic security by helping to spread and consolidate the rule of law and democratic institutions and practices across the European continent, and have respected the right of all states to seek their own security arrangements, as enshrined in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe.  NATO’s door remains open to all European democracies which share the values of our Alliance, which are willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership, which are in a position to further the principles of the Treaty, and whose inclusion can contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.  Decisions on enlargement are for NATO itself; no third party has a say in that process.   We remain committed to the integration of those countries that aspire to join the Alliance, judging each on its own merits.  We encourage them to continue to implement the necessary reforms and decisions to prepare for membership.  We will continue to offer support to their efforts and look to them to take the steps necessary to advance their aspirations.

67.         Allies strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a stable and secure Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other relevant international agreements, encourage domestic reconciliation, and urge political leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric.  We commend Bosnia and Herzegovina, an aspirant country, for its contributions to NATO-led operations.  We are committed to maintaining strong political dialogue with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and offer our continued support to the implementation of all reform efforts, including through NATO HQ Sarajevo.  We encourage the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take full advantage of the breadth of NATO cooperative security and partnership tools.  Allies welcome the work of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO.  Allies urge political leaders to work constructively and to demonstrate political will for the benefit of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina in advancing Euro-Atlantic aspirations by implementing the much-needed political, electoral, rule of law, economic, and defence reforms, including through the country’s Reform Programme with NATO, without prejudice to a final decision on NATO membership.

68.         We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions, including that each partner will be judged on its own merits.  We stand firm in our support for Georgia’s right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference.  As an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Georgia is cooperating closely with the Alliance across a wide range of issues.  We highly appreciate Georgia’s substantial contributions to NATO operations, which demonstrate its commitment and capability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security.  We welcome the recent political agreement on the Way Ahead for Georgia and encourage its full implementation by all sides.  This agreement paves the way for the important reforms which will help Georgia, an aspirant country, progress in its preparations towards membership.  We remain committed to making full use of the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Annual National Programme in deepening political dialogue and cooperation.  We commend the significant progress on reforms which Georgia has made and must continue to make, and which have helped Georgia strengthen its defence capabilities and interoperability with the Alliance.  Georgia’s relationship with the Alliance contains all the practical tools to prepare for eventual membership.  We are working closely with Georgia on security in the Black Sea region, in response to Russia’s increasingly destabilising activities, and welcome the steps taken to implement the refreshed Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.  We stand ready to enhance our support to Georgia, including in building resilience against hybrid threats, in training and exercises, and in secure communications.  We look forward to the next NATO-Georgia exercise in 2022.

69.         We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions, including that each partner will be judged on its own merits.  We stand firm in our support for Ukraine’s right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference.  The Annual National Programmes under the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) remain the mechanism by which Ukraine takes forward the reforms pertaining to its aspiration for NATO membership.  Ukraine should make full use of all instruments available under the NUC to reach its objective of implementing NATO principles and standards.  The success of wide-ranging, sustainable, and irreversible reforms, including combating corruption, promoting an inclusive political process, and decentralisation reform, based on democratic values, respect for human rights, minorities, and the rule of law, will be crucial in laying the groundwork for a prosperous and peaceful Ukraine.  Further reforms in the security sector, including the reform of the Security Services of Ukraine, are particularly important.  We welcome significant reforms already made by Ukraine and strongly encourage further progress in line with Ukraine’s international obligations and commitments.  We will continue to provide practical support to reform in the security and defence sector, including through the Comprehensive Assistance Package.  We will also continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats, including through intensifying activities under the NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare.  We welcome the cooperation between NATO and Ukraine with regard to security in the Black Sea region.  The Enhanced Opportunities Partner status granted last year provides further impetus to our already ambitious cooperation and will promote greater interoperability, with the option of more joint exercises, training, and enhanced situational awareness.  Military cooperation and capacity building initiatives between Allies and Ukraine, including the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade, further reinforce this effort.  We highly value Ukraine’s significant contributions to Allied operations, the NATO Response Force, and NATO exercises.

70.         The Western Balkans is a region of strategic importance for NATO, as highlighted by our long history of cooperation and operations.  NATO remains strongly committed to the security and stability of the Western Balkans and to supporting the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the countries in the region.  We will intensify our efforts in the region and enhance our political dialogue and practical cooperation in order to support reform efforts, promote regional peace and security, and counter the malign influence of outside actors.  Democratic values, the rule of law, domestic reforms, and good neighbourly relations are vital for regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration, and we look to continued progress in this regard.  We value the NATO-Serbia partnership.  Strengthening NATO-Serbia relations would be of benefit to the Alliance, to Serbia, and to the whole region.  We support the EU-facilitated Dialogue and other efforts aimed at the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, and urge the sides to seize the moment and engage in good faith towards reaching a lasting political solution.

71.         We remain committed to NATO’s continued engagement in Kosovo, including through the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) which contributes to a safe and secure environment and to wider stability in the Western Balkans, and through ongoing capacity building efforts with the Kosovo security organisations.  Any changes to our force posture in KFOR remain conditions-based and not calendar-driven.

72.         The Alliance’s close and mutually beneficial security cooperation with our Enhanced Opportunities Partners Finland and Sweden, which share our values and contribute to NATO-led operations and missions, has grown across a wide range of areas.  We will continue to strengthen our ability to respond rapidly and effectively to any common challenges and to work together on enhancing our resilience and civil preparedness.  We will bolster our regular and open political dialogue and cooperation in support of our common security, including by crisis management preparation, exercises, and exchanging information and analysis, notably on the security situation in the Baltic Sea region.

73.         We will work more closely with all our Western European partners to share expertise, address emerging security challenges, and continue our cooperation on operations, missions, and other initiatives.  We will also seek to further develop relations with our partners across the globe.  We are enhancing political dialogue and practical cooperation with our long-standing Asia-Pacific partners – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea – to promote cooperative security and support the rules-based international order.  We will discuss common approaches to global security challenges where NATO’s interests are affected, share perspectives through deeper political engagement, and seek concrete areas for cooperation to address shared concerns.  We are intensifying our interaction with Colombia, NATO’s partner in Latin America, on good governance, military training, interoperability, demining, and maritime security.  We remain open to deepening our political dialogue and intensifying our practical cooperation with our partners in Central Asia, taking into account the regional situation.  We welcome the interest of other global actors to work with NATO in addressing our shared security concerns and stand ready to explore further engagement on a case-by-case basis.

74.         We are committed to enhancing our long-standing engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  We will strengthen our political dialogue and practical cooperation with our Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) partners.  This will build stronger security and defence institutions and capacities, promote interoperability, and help to counter terrorism.  We have upgraded our defence capacity building assistance to Jordan, our Enhanced Opportunities Partner, to include additional counter-terrorism support, and have contributed to the establishment of the new Military Women’s Training Centre.  We will continue our engagement with Tunisia on defence capacity building.  We will leverage the NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait as an important hub for education, training, and public diplomacy activities, and we remain open to the potential establishment of other education and training centres with interested MENA countries.  Our Regional Hub for the South, in Naples, is making tangible progress in implementing its four functions and contributing to our situational awareness and understanding.  We will continue to engage with the African Union and further develop our relations with the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council in order to enhance our ability to better address mutual security concerns.

75.         The deteriorating situation in the Sahel region matters to NATO’s collective security.  This region is a theatre of complex and interconnected challenges.  NATO’s approach to the Sahel is currently focused on our long-standing partnership with Mauritania, and we are looking into providing additional advice and training support.  We will also continue to engage in dialogue with relevant NATO partners, representatives from the Sahel region, international and regional organisations and entities such as the African Union, the G5 Sahel structures, the UN, and the EU, as well as with the Coalition for the Sahel.  NATO will enhance its engagement with the G5 Sahel structures and remains open, upon request, to consider further engagements in the region.

76.         The crisis in Libya has direct implications for regional stability and the security of all Allies.  We welcome the progress achieved in Libya, including the recent endorsement of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) and Presidency Council.  We commend the UN efforts in support of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, aimed at promoting national reconciliation as well as unifying and strengthening state institutions.  We call on all the relevant Libyan authorities and institutions, including the GNU and the House of Representatives, to take actions set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum roadmap and to make the necessary preparations for free, fair, and inclusive national Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021.  We fully support the implementation of UNSCRs 2570 and 2571 and the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement.  In accordance with our Summit decisions, we remain committed to providing advice to Libya, upon its request, in the area of defence and security institution building, taking into account political and security conditions.

77.         NATO is an Alliance that constantly modernises and adapts to new threats and challenges.  NATO is also adapting as an institution.  To enhance our political-military coherence and situational awareness, we have restructured the activities of the NATO Headquarters, and established a Chief Information Officer function.  We welcome and will continue progress towards an optimised NATO intelligence enterprise, better postured to provide timely and relevant support to Alliance operations and decision-making on contemporary and future challenges.  We will also further strengthen the security of our cyber and communications systems and continue to protect the Alliance against espionage attempts.  We will continuously pursue greater coherence, improved effectiveness, and new efficiencies, in support of the flexibility and responsiveness we need as an Alliance.

78.         We express our deep appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to NATO by the Government and the people of Belgium for over five decades, and to us today on the occasion of our Summit meeting at NATO Headquarters.  We pay tribute to all the men and women in uniform who continue to work daily for our collective security.  And we extend a special word of thanks to all those who made it possible for us to have a safe and productive Summit meeting despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the NATO medical personnel and the Polish Medical Emergency Detachment.

79.         With our decisions today, we have opened a new chapter in the transatlantic relationship and set the direction for the Alliance’s continued adaptation towards 2030 and beyond.  We look forward to meeting again in Spain in 2022, followed by our next meeting in Lithuania.

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Planning your visit to the NATO Summit Brussels - 11 and 12 July 2018

Press evening: uniquely phenomenal evening dedicated to the press

Press pools accreditation Working dinners & Spouses’ programme

Accreditation Offices

The media centre, host broadcasting, coming to the accreditation office (haren) and media centre, coming to the accreditation office downtown, using public transport in belgium, finding accommodation near the nato media centre, discover belgium, it’s uniquely phenomenal, useful information.

Press pools accreditation Working dinners & Spouses' programme

You will find here practical information about accreditation to gain access to the different press zones provided for working dinners and the spouses' programme.

• Accreditation Office International Press Center-Résidence Palace in downtown Brussels 7 – 9 July Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Etterbeek (Brussels)  
• Accreditation Office in Haren (Brussels) 10 – 12 July (located close to the NATO Headquarters) STIB-MIVB Houtweg 23, 1130 Haren (Brussels)

Opening hours (central European summer time):

Important information:

Press accreditations are delivered by NATO

Accreditation must be introduced online: my.hq.nato.int

Deadline for accreditation requests: 18h00 on 27 June 2018

Press queries: [email protected]

The NATO Summit Accreditation Office is the single point of entry for the NATO Summit Media Centre.

Check the NATO website for more information.

The live feed from our host broadcaster is made available, free of charge.

Routing: HOL-278 EU7B/B2/2A6

Distribution network:

• Satellite: Eutelsat 7B 7 deg East Transponder B2
• Channel: 2A6 - 6 MHz
• Uplink frequency: 14258.5 MHz POL.X by HOL-278
• Downlink frequency: 10958.5 MHz POL.Y
• Parameters: DVBS2 8PSK 4.9373 Ms/s FEC 3/4,Pilot:On Roll-off 0.2 (MPEG4/H.264 420 10.7514 Mbps)
• Video standard: HD 1080i 50Hz 16:9
• Audio 1: SOUND MONO
• Audio 2: SOUND MONO

All accredited media will receive a 72h Free Public Transport Pass and public transport map in a bid to promote sustainable mobility. The Transport Pass will be delivered on arrival at the Accreditation Office. It allows you unlimited travel in the Brussel-Capital Region over a 72 hour period starting from the first validation. This includes the Metro Tram Bus area , as well as all other public transport in the Brussels region:

• the entire STIB network (including the Bourget-Brussels Airport section)
• the TEC and De Lijn  urban bus networks
• the SNCB rail network in 2nd class

The Accreditation Office is located within walking distance from BORDET train station and several bus and tram stops. It is located in the municipality of Haren (City of Brussels) which is located in between Brussels Airport and the Brussels city center.

From Brussels Airport - Zaventem www.brusselsairport.be

The easiest way:

• Take the train direction Charleroi-Sud or Dinant  on Platform 2 Brussels Airport station is located on level -1 of the terminal, at a small distance from the arrivals hall (2nd floor) and the departures hall (3rd floor)
• Stop at Bordet station - 10 minutes Timetable and bookings

Other possibilities:

• Take the bus - 35 minutes
• Stop at Bordet station Timetable and bookings

From Brussels South Charleroi Airport www.brussels-charleroi-airport.com

• Take a shuttle to Bruxelles-midi station
• Take the train – 1 change
• Stop at Bordet station - 35 minutes Timetable and bookings

The metro station and the sale outlet to buy tickets is located on the lower floor of the station. You also can also buy your tickets using the GO ticket vending machines. They allow you to purchase your bus, tram and metro tickets (available 24/7). These machines accept Maestro bank cards, credit cards and coins. You can also buy tickets online (on the website or by using the app). Visit the website of the Brussels public transportation company: www.stib-mivb.be

From the city center of Brussels

• Bruxelles-Central - 25 minutes
• Bruxelles-Midi - 35 minutes
• Bruxelles-Nord - 20 minutes
• Bruxelles-Schuman - 5 minutes
• Bruxelles-Central - 40 minutes
• Bruxelles-Midi - 40 minutes
• Bruxelles-Nord - 25 minutes
• Bruxelles-Schuman - 30 minutes

From Wallonia

You can reach Brussels:

• by train Timetable and bookings
• by bus Timetable and bookings

From Flanders

The Accreditation Office will offer:

• a bicycle parking
• a drop off point
• a parking lot of 400 places (first-come first-served), secured 24/7 during the opening hours of the Media Centre

 We recommend using public transport. Traffic flow could be slow and certain areas will be closed to traffic.

The accreditation center in Brussels is located in the International Press Center - Residence Palace , near the Council of European Union.

From Brussels Airport - Zaventem

www.brusselsairport.be

Bus 12 is in use from Monday to Friday from 5.40 AM until 8 PM.

During the week after 8 PM, on Saturday, Sunday and holidays, bus 21 takes over.

The bus station is located on level 0 - one floor down from the arrivals hall - and can be easily reached by using the escalators or elevators. Centrally located on the bus station, there are three platforms each with its specific use. Bus 12 departs from platform C. Before boarding the bus, you can purchase a ticket at one of the GO ticket machines located on platform C of the bus station or inside the airport (available 24/7). These machines accept Maestro bank cards, credit cards and coins. You can also buy tickets online (on the website or by using the app). Visit the website of the Brussels public transportation company: www.stib-mivb.be

• Stop at Bruxelles-Schuman station

Departure every 30 minutes Brussels Airport - Zaventem station is located on level -1 of the terminal, at a small distance from the arrivals hall (2nd floor) and the departures hall (3rd floor).

• Stop at Bruxelles-Schuman station Timetable and bookings

Take the bus - Between 40 and 60 minutes

The bus station is located on level 0 - one floor down from the arrivals hall - and can be easily reached by using the escalators or elevators. More information on the website of Brussels Airport You can buy your ticket from the GO ticket vending machines before boarding. These machines accept Maestro bank cards, credit cards and coins. You can also buy tickets online (on the website or by using the app). Visit the website of the Brussels public transportation company: www.stib-mivb.be

Timetable and bookings

From Brussels South Charleroi airport

www.brussels-charleroi-airport.com

• Take the shuttle to Bruxelles-Midi station
• Take the metro - 15 minutes The metro station and the sale outlet to buy tickets is located on the lower floor of the station. You also can also buy your tickets using the GO ticket vending machines. They allow you to purchase your bus, tram and metro tickets (available 24/7). These machines accept Maestro bank cards, credit cards and coins. You can also buy tickets online (on the website or by using the app). Visit the website of the Brussels public transportation company: www.stib-mivb.be
• Stop at Bruxelles-Schuman Timetable, real time and bookings
• From Bruxelles-Midi, take the bus or the tram - 35 minutes The tram station and the sale outlet to buy tickets is located on the lower floor of the station. The bus station is located outside the station. You can also can also buy your tickets using the GO ticket vending machines. They allow you to purchase your bus, tram and metro tickets (available 24/7). These machines accept Maestro bank cards, credit cards and coins. You can also buy tickets online (on the website or by using the app). Visit the website of the Brussels public transportation company: www.stib-mivb.be
• Take the metro line 1 (direction Stockel) or 5 (direction Herrmann-Debroux - Erasme) Sales outlets to buy tickets are located in the metro stations. You also can also buy your tickets using the GO ticket vending machines. They allow you to purchase your bus, tram and metro tickets (available 24/7). These machines accept Maestro bank cards, credit cards and coins. You can also buy tickets online (on the website or by using the app). Visit the website of the Brussels public transportation company: www.stib-mivb.be
• Take the train from one of the stations of Brussels ( Bruxelles-Central, Bruxelles-Midi , Bruxelles-Nord )

Stop at the station Bruxelles-Schuman - 30 minutes Timetable and bookings

• Trains  (closest train station Bordet)
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More information about getting to Brussels

Taxi Services in Belgium

• Information about taxi costs and call centres
• List of taxi stands in Brussels
• Taxis verts (Brussels)
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You can make your own accommodation arrangements in Brussels, Flanders or Wallonia.

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• International

March 24, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Helen Regan , Seán Federico O'Murchú, George Ramsay, Sana Noor Haq, Adrienne Vogt , Melissa Macaya, Maureen Chowdhury, Meg Wagner and Jason Kurtz, CNN

Biden arrives at NATO summit in Brussels

From Allie Malloy

US President Joe Biden has arrived in Brussels for emergency summits to respond to the war in Ukraine, a consequential visit that comes as the West continues to grapple with how to disrupt Russia's invasion. 

Biden heads to a brief meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and takes a family photo with other NATO leaders, greeting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and French President Emmanuel Macron, among others.

A European Council and G7 meeting will also take place on Thursday.

Some background: Biden is set to unveil sanctions on Russian political figures and oligarchs during the summits, the White House has said, and ahead of Thursday's key meetings in Brussels, the US government also  formally declared  Russia's military has committed war crimes in Ukraine.

According to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Biden will "discuss ongoing deterrence and defense efforts" during the NATO summit and reaffirm the US' commitment to its NATO allies.

Russia claims control of Ukrainian city, state media reports

From CNN’s Tim Lister

The Russian military claimed to have taken control of the Ukrainian city of Izyum on Thursday, state media outlet RIA-Novosti reported citing the Russian Ministry of Defense.

However, Ukraine denied the claim with Lyudmyla Dolhonovska, an adviser to Ukraine Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, telling CNN that the battle for Izyum is “still going on."

Izyum lies on the main road between Kharkiv and the Russian-backed separatist areas of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

Some background: Izyum has been cut off from nearly all communications since intense battles between Russian and Ukrainian forces broke out there last week.

Now, the first videos and images have emerged from the city, showing widespread destruction, charred and bombed-out buildings, and bodies left lying in the streets.

Russian stocks open higher as trading resumes in partial re-opening of Moscow stock exchange

From CNN's Robert North

Russia’s MOEX stock index opened higher after partially reopening for the first time in almost a month.

In the first few minutes, the index rose more than 10%. 

The Moscow Stock Exchange last traded on Feb. 25, after shares plunged following the invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Russia. 

The MOEX index had lost roughly 35% of its value this year, while the RTS index — which is denominated in dollars — plunged 42%.

What is reopening:

• The Central Bank said the exchange would partially re-open for trading in Russian stocks on Thursday.
• The Bank of Russia said trading in 33 stocks would take place between 9.50 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time. (It's currently 10:42 a.m. in Moscow.)
• The Russian equities allowed to resume trading include big companies such as Gazprom, Lukoil, VTB Bank, Sberbank, Rusal and Rosneft.
• The central bank said there will be a ban on short shelling for these shares and it blocked foreign investors from selling their shares.
• It has also brought in currency controls, limiting the amount of foreign currency people can take out of Russia. 

Some context: The White House criticized the move to reopen the stock market, calling it a "charade" and a "Potemkin market opening" that will obscure the dire effects of Western economic sanctions.

Half of all Ukrainian kids have been displaced since the Russian invasion began, UNICEF says

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq in Lviv

One in every two Ukrainian children has been displaced since Russia began its invasion on Feb. 24, according to the UN Children's Fund.

"It's mind-boggling," UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told CNN. "Since the start of the war a month ago, out of every boy and girl in the country, one out of two now has had to flee their homes."

Elder said UNICEF is trying to get blankets, water purification tablets, generators, medical supplies and obstetric kits for mothers giving birth into the country.

"Unless the war stops, unless the indiscriminate attacks stop, we're going to see more children wrenched from their homes and the bombardments," he said.

Russian ship destroyed in the occupied port of Berdyansk, Ukrainian Navy says

From CNN's Tim Lister in Lviv

A large Russian ship has been destroyed in the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk, in southeastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Navy on Thursday.

CNN could not confirm the Navy's claim although social media videos appeared to show a very large fire with secondary explosions in the port.

Some context: Berdyansk sits on the Azov Sea and is roughly 45 miles (70 kilometers) southwest of Mariupol. The city has a small naval base and a population of about 100,000. Russian military troops first occupied Berdyansk government buildings on Feb. 27. 

White House calls Russia stock market reopening a "charade"

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

The White House said Russia's planned partial reopening of its stock exchange amounts to a "Potemkin market opening" that will obscure the dire effects of Western economic sanctions.

(The original term "Potemkin Village" derives from a story dating back to 18th-century Russia, suggesting that an artificial place can be built to disguise or conceal the true -- and often less desirable -- identity of the original.)

"What we’re seeing is a charade," deputy national security adviser Daleep Singh wrote in a statement. "After keeping its markets closed for nearly a month, Russia announced it will only allow 15% of listed shares to trade, foreigners are prohibited from selling their shares, and short selling in general has been banned. Meanwhile, Russia has made clear they are going to pour government resources into artificially propping up the shares of companies that are trading."

Singh said it was "not a real market and not a sustainable model — which only underscores Russia’s isolation from the global financial system."

• The Moscow Stock Exchange will partially re-open for trading in Russian stocks on Thursday, Russia’s Central Bank announced.
• The Bank of Russia said trading in 33 stocks will resume between 9.50 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time. 
• The central bank said there will be a ban applied on short shelling for these shares.

Ukraine sees fastest displacement crisis since WWII, aid group says 

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq in Lviv 

More than 2 million Ukrainian refugees have crossed into Poland since Russian forces invaded Ukraine a month ago.

It's “the fastest displacement crisis we've seen since the Second World War," the International Rescue Committee said in a statement Thursday.  

The IRC said Poland has "acted quickly" to legalize the stay of Ukrainians and to provide access to social services like healthcare, education, and financial assistance.

"However, to receive most benefits, registration for a Polish ID number is required. Even with the swift registration process established by the Polish government, it will be a long process to register the over one million people who are expected to stay on in Poland," said Heather Macey, IRC Team Lead in Poland.

I RC, a major US humanitarian group , has urged authorities in countries neighboring Ukraine to "make full use of the help offered by the EU Asylum Agency, EU funding, and other EU countries to make sure that refugees are supported in an equitable and sustainable way across the continent." 

Western leaders set for critical day of summits as they ready the next phase of responses to war

A  slew of emergency summits Thursday  could help determine  the next phase of the Western response  to Russia’s war in Ukraine, which US officials warn is entering an uncertain but bloody stretch.

Announcements on new sanctions,  NATO force posture and military assistance are all expected as part of the diplomatic burst, according to US and European officials.

Representatives from the White House and European governments spent days leading up to the summit in intensive conversations finalizing steps for leaders to unveil following their talks.

What they won’t do is what embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly asked: Enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

US and NATO officials have repeatedly said that such a move would risk provoking President Vladimir Putin and sparking a wider war with  Russia .

Western allies have also found it difficult to take more aggressive steps, such as providing Russian-made fighter jets to Ukraine or deciding to cut themselves off from Russian energy supplies, which could potentially cripple Russia’s economy.

Read the full story:

Western leaders set for critical day of summits as they ready the next phase of their response to Russia-Ukraine war

Foreign investors are fleeing taiwan following russian invasion of ukraine. here's why.

From CNN Business' Michelle Toh

War in Europe  has triggered a massive flight of capital from an Asian island nearly 5,000 miles away.

Over the last month, Russia’s   invasion of Ukraine  has  heightened concerns  about the risk that China could increase its   military force against   Taiwan , triggering what some analysts have described as an unprecedented exodus by overseas investors.

In the three weeks following the invasion, foreign investors dumped shares   worth about 480 billion Taiwanese dollars ($16.9 billion), according to Alex Huang, director at Mega International Investment Services, a Taipei-based firm.

That outflow is the biggest on record, he said, exceeding the value of Taiwanese shares sold by foreign investors in the whole of 2021, which Bank of America analysts have estimated   at $15.6 billion.

Goldman Sachs analysts project that Taiwan has seen an outflow of $15.6 billion over the past month, topping last year’s tally of $15.3 billion.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has foreign investors fleeing Taiwan. Here's why

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Truman statue makes journey to Brussels for NATO's 75th anniversary

A statue of former President Harry Truman cast at a foundry in Norman, Oklahoma, has been installed at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to NATO in Brussels ahead of the alliance's 75th anniversary this week.

Why it matters: Under Truman, the U.S. became a founding member of NATO on April 4, 1949. The alliance was formed to confront the growing threat of Soviet aggression, and has ballooned from 12 members in 1949 to 32 today.

• That includes Finland and Sweden , who joined NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• The war has presented a massive challenge to NATO's unity and security, with the U.S. embroiled in a domestic political debate that has stalled further military aid to Ukraine.

Zoom in: The statue, which was donated to the State Department by the Truman Library Institute, will be unveiled at an anniversary celebration Wednesday at Truman Hall in Brussels.

• It's the second casting of the statue by Missouri-based artist Tom Corbin. The first was installed in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in 2022.
• The 2,500-pound statue and base was transported by tractor trailer from Oklahoma to Kansas City to Chicago, before completing the trans-Atlantic flight to Brussels.
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Ambassador Julianne Smith are scheduled to deliver remarks at Wednesday's ceremony, which will be attended by NATO foreign ministers and ambassadors.

The bottom line: Asked whether Truman would be surprised by Russia's ongoing threat to NATO today, his eldest grandson, Clifton Truman, quoted the late president as saying: "There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know."

Get the rundown of the biggest stories of the day with Axios Daily Essentials.

New Zealand says new NATO partnership to be concluded in 'coming months'

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Indonesia’s military on Saturday denied using air strikes in a remote, restive part of the country, after a video of a New Zealand pilot kidnapped by Papuan rebels featured him saying military actions had made his position unsafe.

China's leadership is willing to work with its North Korean counterparts to deepen trust and boost cooperation, China's top legislator Zhao Leji said in a speech in Pyongyang published by the official Xinhua news agency late on Friday.

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Home   /   Newsroom   /   News Archive   /   2024   /  STRIKFORNATO welcomes its new Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Craig Wood CBE

Apr 12 2024

STRIKFORNATO welcomes its new Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Craig Wood CBE

Rear Admiral Craig Wood assumed the duties of Deputy Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), in Oeiras, Portugal, in April 2024.

Rear Admiral Wood, a seasoned naval officer hailing from the Scottish Highlands, commenced his service in 1989 as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Royal Navy. Over his 35-year career, Admiral Craig has served 6 command tours at echelons of increasing responsibility including: the Gibraltar Squadron patrol vessel HMS Trumpeter, and the destroyers, HMS Liverpool and HMS Dragon. As a Commodore, he has commanded the Portsmouth Flotilla (2017), the newly created Royal Navy Surface Flotilla (2020), and Coalition Task Force Sentinel (Nov 20 – Apr 21). Significant shore duty assignments include 2 tours at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters as well as the UK Ministry of Defence.

Rear Admiral Craig Wood succeeds Rear Admiral James Morley, who has returned to the United Kingdom pending his next assignment.

Rear Admiral Craig Wood's biography

Story by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO

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STRIKFORNATO Headquarters Reduto Gomes Freire Estrada Da Medrosa 2780 - 070 Oeiras Portugal

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