NATO News

In the context of its ongoing work on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, NATO’s Emerging Security Challenges Division organized a webinar on 16 July 2020 on interoperability. The workshop brought together Allied officials and external experts to discuss interoperability when it comes to dealing with a range of new, and rapidly evolving, technologies.

Speaking at an online discussion on “NATO partnerships during the pandemic” organised by the non-governmental organisation Information and Documentation Centre in Moldova on Thursday (16 July 2020), NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said that “tens of thousands of militaries have gone to help the civil part of our societies”, mentioning that military medical personnel have also been involved “in building field hospitals for the patients affected by COVID.”

The third NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft arrived on 15 July 2020 at its new homebase in Sigonella, Italy. The landing marks yet another step for NATO on its way to acquiring a total of five RQ-4D remotely piloted aircraft.

Visiting Madrid on Wednesday and Thursday (15-16 July 2020), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended a ceremony of remembrance for the victims of COVID-19 at the Royal Palace.

The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will travel to Madrid on Wednesday, 15 July 2020 and Thursday, 16 July 2020.

Visiting the NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (14 July 2020), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană for an exchange of views on cooperation between NATO and Georgia and on Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and reform efforts. During his visit, Mr. Zalkaliani also addressed the North Atlantic Council in the NATO-Georgia Commission.

NATO maritime exercise Dynamic Mongoose concluded on Friday (10 July 2020) off the coast of Iceland. Ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from six Allies took part in the anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare exercise.

On 10-11 July 2020, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach was in Hungary to meet the Minister of Defence, H.E. Tibor Benkő, the Chief of Defence, General Ferenc Korom and other high-ranking officials. He also visited the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine and the Border Guard Base in Hercegszántó.

Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium on Monday (13 July 2020). He had talks about NATO’s military priorities with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tod D. Wolters, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tim Radford, Chief of Staff, General Markus Kneip, and other senior commanders.

On Tuesday, 14 July 2020, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. David Zalkaliani.

NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme has launched “PROMEDEUS”, a new project which will further enhance Mauritania’s crisis management system. It builds on the achievements of two previous projects that established a crisis management centre in Nouakchott and four regional operational coordination centres. The new project aims to support the development of Mauritania’s operational capabilities and emergencies management in the fields of public health and civil protection.

Budding artists whose parents work at NATO have received prizes and certificates from Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for taking part in an art challenge organised by the NATO Headquarters’ COVID-19 Response Team. The theme of the challenge was “Life during COVID-19”, and it attracted drawings from 17 contributors, aged from 2 to 15.

Scientists across Allied and Partner Nations have responded to the challenge set by the NATO Chief Scientist in April to identify solutions to some of the most pressing scientific challenges posed by COVID-19.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Prime Minister Janez Janša of Slovenia at NATO Headquarters on Thursday (9 July 2020). They discussed NATO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, fairer burden sharing across the Alliance, and NATO missions and operations.

Speaking at an online discussion on “EU defense and the present and future of EU-NATO cooperation” on Thursday (9 July 2020), NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said that the COVID-19 pandemic shows that NATO needs to join forces with the EU and other international organisations as well as with like-minded nations to tackle this crisis and that no organisation can respond to today’s challenges alone. He stressed that throughout the COVID-19 crisis NATO and the EU have strengthened cooperation.

NATO Policy Directors for Civil Preparedness met by secure video conference on Wednesday (8 July 2020), to exchange views and best practices in their response to the COVID-19 crisis and how to strengthen national resilience.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held talks on Wednesday (8 July 2020) with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna. They discussed the priorities of the new Ukrainian government and the strength of the NATO-Ukraine partnership. The Secretary General welcomed Ukraine’s status as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, which recognises the country’s contributions to Euro-Atlantic security.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana met with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Ambassador Peter Maurer at NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (8 July 2020) for an exchange of views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and on the activities of both organisations. Mr. Geoana noted that during the COVID-19 crisis there have been regular contacts between NATO and the ICRC at multiple levels.

On Wednesday, 8 July 2020, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will receive the Deputy Prime Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Ms. Olha Stefanishyna.