NATO News

Arriving at the Munich Security Conference on Friday (17 February 2023), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that, one year since Russia launched its full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, our security environment has fundamentally changed. He underlined the need to sustain support for Ukraine, so that it can win the war and prevail as a sovereign independent state in Europe. “If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will be a tragedy for the Ukrainians but it will also be dangerous for all of us,” Mr Stoltenberg said, adding that this would be “a message to authoritarian leaders all over the world that when they use military force, they achieve their goals. And that will make the world more dangerous and also more vulnerable.”

On 23-24 February 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, is visiting Tallinn, Estonia. He will meet with the President of Estonia, Mr. Alar Karis, the Prime Minister of Estonia, Ms. Kaja Kallas and the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen.

On 17-18 February 2023, NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC).

In a visit to Ankara on Thursday (16 February 2023), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg offered NATO’s deepest condolences to the Turkish people and all those affected by the devastating earthquakes of 6 February. He conveyed this message of solidarity in meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoǧan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Ankara, Türkiye on Thursday (16 February 2023) to show solidarity following the devastating earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria last week.

On Monday, 20 February 2023, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Mircea Geoană, will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Nikolay Milkov, at NATO Headquarters.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised Poland’s commitment to the Alliance and for its support to Ukraine, during a visit by President Andrzej Duda to NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (15 February 2023).

On Monday, 20 February 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Mr. Gabrielius Landsbergis, at NATO Headquarters.

NATO is stepping up support for Ukraine, while further strengthening deterrence and defence and increasing stockpiles, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday (15 February 2023) following a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers.

NATO Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will visit Türkiye on 15-16 February 2023. He will meet with the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoǧan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Ankara, and visit areas affected by the devastating earthquakes of 6 February.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Wednesday (15 February 2023) the creation of a Critical Undersea Infrastructure Coordination Cell at NATO Headquarters.

On Wednesday (15 February 2023), 16 Allies¹, together with invitees Finland and Sweden, launched a new initiative that will transform the way NATO gathers and uses data from space, significantly improve NATO’s intelligence and surveillance, and provide essential support to NATO’s military missions and operations.

Ministers from 25 Allied nations, plus Finland and Sweden, came together today (15 February 2023) to sign new major commitments to jointly develop and procure systems securing NATO’s access to cutting edge technology. Progress is being made in a range of areas, including Ground-based Air Defence, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence, and Mobility/ Counter Mobility.

Norway has sent its C-130J Hercules transport aircraft to Türkiye to support the evacuation efforts and transport of emergency aid following the devastating earthquakes of 6 February 2023. The first medical evacuation mission was flown on 13 February 2023, evacuating 28 patients via Adana airport to hospitals in Ankara.

Today (15 February 2023), Denmark and Sweden joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) coordinated by Germany. This brings the number of participants to 17, including 15 Allies as well as invitees Finland and Sweden. Among other things, the initiative aims to strengthen NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence by facilitating the multinational acquisition and integration of a broad range of air defence capabilities by European countries.

On 13 and 14 February 2023, a military delegation from NATO’s Cooperative Security Division (CS), led by its Director, Lieutenant General Francesco Diella travelled to Seoul to meet with military representatives from the Republic of Korea. They discussed the current partnership between NATO and Korea as well as future opportunities for cooperation.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (14 February 2023) for meetings of Allied Defence Ministers.

On 9 February, the Office of the Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Human Security hosted a conference on ‘Cultural Property Protection and NATO: Experiences, Practices and Trends’, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The aim of the conference was to assess the implications of the protection of cultural property in armed conflicts for NATO and Allies.

Speaking at the start of a two-day meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on Tuesday (14 February 2023), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said there are no signs that President Putin is preparing for peace, stressing the urgency of delivering military capabilities to Ukraine quickly so that it can continue to defend itself.

On Monday (13 February 2023), NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană participated in a panel discussion marking the kick-off of the Munich Security Conference, in Berlin, Germany. The discussion focused on Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the implications of authoritarian regimes attempting to subvert and reshape elements of the international order.