NATO News

Today (24 November 2020), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke virtually at the 2020 Afghanistan Donors’ Conference held in Geneva. “As part of the peace process, we have already significantly adjusted the NATO presence in Afghanistan, but the NATO mission will continue to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces,” the Secretary General said, stressing that “at the same time, we are committed to help fund them through 2024, and NATO Allies have already made pledges for next year.”

Personnel from NATO and partner countries held a first virtual meeting from 16 to 18 November in order to exchange best practices from professional military education institutions using online platforms. Responding to the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP) hosted the event with the aim support the adaptation and development of professional military education to the new circumstances.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke with Joe Biden on Monday (23 November 2020) to congratulate him on his election as the next President of the United States and Kamala Harris as the next Vice-President. Mr. Stoltenberg thanked President-elect Biden for being a long-standing supporter of NATO and the transatlantic relationship.

Speaking at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s virtual Annual Session on Monday (23 November 2020), NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said that the NATO 2030 initiative will, “make our strong Alliance even stronger and fit to face any challenge, in the next decade and beyond” and added that, “NATO is the only place where the countries of Europe and North America meet every day. We need to build on this and use NATO even more as a forum for frank discussion, on a wide range of security issues.”

On Wednesday, 25 November 2020, NATO and GLOBSEC are organising NATO 2030: NATO-Private Sector Dialogue. The event, a first of its kind, will focus on The Future of Warfare and the Role of New and Emerging Technologies.

Preparing the Alliance for the future with the NATO 2030 initiative, and using it to address the rise of China, cyber threats and other challenges, were the main topics of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s participation in the Halifax International Security Forum today (22 November 2020). The Secretary General engaged in an online conversation with Robin Shepherd, the Forum’s Vice President. The discussion opened the Forum’s Plenary Session on “75 Years On: Re-Making the Democratic World Order”.

Today (21 November 2020), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted NATO’s long standing efforts in support to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s security and regional stability. “25 years ago, the Dayton Peace Agreement brought an end to nearly four years of brutal war in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” Secretary General Stoltenberg said. “The presence of NATO troops played a central role in bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table; once the agreement was signed, NATO forces oversaw its implementation; and we have remained on the ground ever since to help maintain peace and security in the Western Balkans,” he added.

On Monday 30 November 2020, at 13:00, the NATO Secretary General will brief the press ahead of the meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, taking place via tele-conference on 1 – 2 December 2020.

NATO Allies Canada and Romania and NATO partner Australia joined the Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative on 20 November 2020. The Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative aims to strengthen the ability of navies to operate in a multinational context above, on, and under the water, in an increasingly complex maritime domain.

France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom announced the launch of a multinational project on Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities on 19 November 2020.

On Monday, 23 November 2020, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will take part in the Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NPA).

The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will participate in the Halifax International Security Forum, which is taking place virtually this year.

Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum on Wednesday (18 November), NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said that as NATO looks to the next decade and beyond, it needs to accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience and expand its partnerships.

On Wednesday, 18 November 2020, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Mircea Geoană will participate in the Road to Warsaw Security Forum 2020 conference, organized by the Warsaw Security Forum.

NATO’s biggest cyber defence exercise, the week-long Cyber Coalition started on Monday (16 November). The exercise aims to train cyber defenders in their ability to defend NATO and national networks and will test decision making processes and procedures.

All Nations remember their losses in war and conflict in different ways. Regardless of faith, creed, history or geography, I am struck on all my visits to Allies on the common humanity of all serving members of the Armed Forces of the Alliance as we show respect for those who went before, who gave their lives, or who were wounded or affected by conflict and war.

Speaking at the annual Riga Conference on Friday (13 November 2020), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the importance of Alliance unity and Allies’ continued investment in defence to ensure peace and prosperity for the future.

On 12 November 2020 the fifth and last NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft arrived at the AGS Main Operating Base in Sigonella, Italy. The arrival of the RQ-4D aircraft at its home base in Europe represents a new milestone in the NATO AGS Programme, completing the NATO AGS fleet.

The United Kingdom has deployed medics from the Royal Army Medical Corps to the Czech Republic, in support of efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The deployment follows a request for assistance by the Czech Republic to NATO’s Euro Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).