NATO News

On Thursday, 19 October 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will participate in the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD).

“A complex, aggressive, attack-oriented army sport without rules, practised by militaries worldwide, but also an activity that teaches the values of respect, reverence and perseverance.” That is how hand-to-hand combat is described by Martina Ptáčková, an eight-time world champion in martial arts who has trained Allied soldiers at a military training centre and in the NATO multinational battlegroup in Slovakia. How did her story begin and what does working with NATO mean to her?

On Monday 16 October 2023, the NATO and Invitee Military Representatives headed down to SHAPE for a series of briefings, including an update on the headquarters' transition from strategic command to warfighting command and the ongoing implementation of the regional plans as well as ongoing and upcoming exercises.

More than 130 additional troops from Romania arrived in Kosovo on Friday (13 October 2023) to further reinforce NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission, in addition to two hundred British soldiers deployed earlier this month. The deployment of these additional troops comes after the violent attack on Kosovo Police on 24 September and increased tensions in the region.

From 4 to 7 October 2023, the Director General of the NATO International Military Staff (DGIMS), Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak was in Uzbekistan. This visit aimed to restate NATO‘s ongoing engagement and cooperation with Uzbekistan, particularly against a backdrop of evolving regional security dynamics.

NATO will launch its long-planned annual nuclear exercise “Steadfast Noon” on Monday (16 October 2023) with up to 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over southern Europe.

Under a sunny blue sky at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, people of various ages, nationalities and backgrounds recently gathered to support diversity at the NATO Run for All. Organised by three NATO staff resource groups that advocate for a more inclusive work environment for racial minorities, LGBTQ+ staff and working parents, the Run for All was an inspirational race dedicated to promoting diversity and fostering unity, embodying the values at the heart of the Alliance.

On 12 October 2023 NATO Defence Ministers and the Swedish Defence Minister endorsed the Digital Ocean Vision, a pioneering initiative to enhance NATO’s maritime situational awareness from seabed to space. The Digital Ocean initiative will transform Allied maritime domain awareness by enhancing coordination between national and Allied capabilities employed for maritime surveillance. This includes a broad range of assets from satellites to autonomous systems below, on, and above the sea.

NATO Defence Ministers wrapped up two days of meetings in Brussels on Thursday (12 October 2023), addressing the Alliance’s defence plans and operations, and meeting with their Israeli counterpart.

Two initiatives were signed in the margins of the NATO Defence Ministers’ meeting this week (11-12 October 2023), demonstrating Allies’ commitment to work together to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence in the air domain.

From 3 to 5 October 2023, approximately 200 participants from 44 Allied and Partner Nations attended the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) Annual Conference online and in-person at NATO Headquarters. This year‘s theme focused on “Gender Analysis in Action”.

NATO Allies condemned the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel in a meeting of Defence Ministers on Thursday (12 October 2023). Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed ministers by video conference on the atrocities by Hamas perpetrated against Israeli civilians and the nationals of several NATO Allies. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO condemned the terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms, adding: “Israel does not stand alone.”

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (12 October 2023) for a second day of meetings of Allied Defence Ministers.

Defence Ministers from 10 NATO Allies came together on Wednesday (11 October 2023) to sign a memorandum of understanding to further develop the European Sky Shield Initiative. Under Germany’s leadership, the initiative aims to bolster European air and missile defence through the joint acquisition of air defence equipment and missiles by European nations. This will strengthen NATO’s integrated air and missile defence.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday (11 October 2023) welcomed Allies' new pledges of support for Ukraine as Russia is “preparing once again to use winter as a weapon of war.”

On 10-11 October 2023, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Bauer attended the 2023 edition of the Joint Air and Space Power Conference, where he delivered a keynote address to more than 300 experts and senior leaders from across the Alliance and beyond, representing defence industry, academia and all military services.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg previewed the issues that NATO Defence Ministers will discuss over the next two days in Brussels, including support for Ukraine, strengthened deterrence and defence, NATO operations and missions, and the situation in the Middle East. He was joined by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy who is at NATO Headquarters to take part in the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, alongside more than 50 countries.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană participated in the European Defence and Security Conference in Brussels on Tuesday (10 October 2023). In a conversation with the Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren, moderated by Euronews journalist Méabh Mc Mahon, Mr Geoană highlighted the significant increase in NATO-EU cooperation in recent years.

Directors responsible for security policy from Allied Foreign Affairs ministries and invitee Sweden met in Romania from 9 to 10 October 2023 to address current security challenges facing the Alliance.

On Tuesday, 10 October 2023, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Mircea Geoană, will participate in the 3rd European Defence and Security Conference, where he will address NATO-EU cooperation following the Russian invasion to Ukraine.