NATO News

On 28 January 2021, the Director General of the NATO International Military Staff, Lieutenant General Hans-Werner Wiermann met with the President of the NATO Charity Bazaar, Mrs Szabina Baros to hand over funds collected in 2020.

Students from ten top universities in Allied countries are taking part in NATO’s first policy hackathon, launched today (29 January 2021), in partnership with LEAD Mindsets & Capabilities.

Today (28 January 2021), the Commander of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Brigadier General Eric Folkestad, and the Head of the U.S. Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation, Major Taib Grozdanic, presided over the delivery of medical supplies to the Bihac Cantonal Hospital Dr. Irfan Ljubijankic in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid consisted of thousands of masks and hundreds of additional items, including disinfectants, goggles, face-shields and gloves. Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus crisis, NATO Allies, including the United States, have donated tons of supplies through numerous deliveries of assistance, following a request for support submitted from Bosnia and Herzegovina to NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center.

United States Navy destroyer USS Porter entered the Black Sea on Thursday (28 January 2021) to conduct routine maritime security operations and to train with Allies and partners in the region. Porter is the third US navy ship to enter the Black Sea in recent days, joining guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook and replenishment oiler USNS Laramie.

The thirty Allied Chiefs of Defence held their first Military Committee meeting of 2021 in a hybrid virtual/in person format. The meeting allowed the Military Committee to align military work priorities and discuss all current operations, missions and activities with contributing NATO partners. The Military Committee’s advice and guidance will play a vital part of the North Atlantic Council’s decision-making ahead of next month’s Defence Ministers meeting.

At a virtual meeting of the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) on Wednesday (27 January 2021), senior officials from NATO Headquarters and Allied governments briefed on the history, evolution and future of NATO’s forward presence in the eastern and south-eastern part of the Alliance.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a phone call with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs on Wednesday (27 January) to discuss the Alliance’s current agenda. The Secretary General thanked Latvia for hosting the Canadian-led battlegroup as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) measures in the Baltic Sea region. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the deployment of the four battlegroups to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, to deter aggression and to preserve peace. Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that, despite the pandemic, NATO’s deterrence and defence in the region remains strong and effective.

Speaking at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels today (27 January 2021), NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said that Allies remember the horrendous atrocities of the Holocaust.

NATO must remain fit to face any challenge amid a more unpredictable and competitive world, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Allied Chiefs of Defence on Wednesday (27 January 2021).

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke to Joe Biden, President of the United States, this evening. He congratulated the President on his inauguration, which was a powerful demonstration of the strength of America’s democracy and the values we share, and the start of a new chapter for our transatlantic Alliance.

HERAT (Afghanistan) – On Jan. 26, 2021, Italian Army Brigadier General Alberto Vezzoli, Commander of the “Julia” Brigade and Multinational Land Force, officially handed over the command of Train, Advise, Assist Command-West (TAAC-W) at Camp Arena to Italian Army Brigadier General Beniamino Vergori, Commander of the “Folgore” Brigade. The ceremony was attended by the Italian Minister of Defence Hon. Lorenzo Guerini and presided over by Italian Army Lieutenant General Nicola Zanelli, Deputy Commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission. Many other distinguished civilian and military guests also attended, including the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo, and Italian Ambassador to Afghanistan Vittorio Sandalli.

Today (26 January 2021), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the Foreign Minister of Greece Nikos Dendias at NATO Headquarters. They shared views on a number of topics, including the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Secretary General’s NATO 2030 initiative, and Libya.

Six Spanish Air Force Eurofighters arrived at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania on Monday (25 January 2021) to take up two months of NATO air policing duty, patrolling and training alongside the Romanian Air Force. NATO’s enhanced air policing mission in Romania was established in 2014, demonstrating Allies’ commitment to deter any possible aggression. This is the first time that Spain has participated.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (26 January). They exchanged views on the forward-looking NATO2030 process that will ensure the Alliance remains ready to face tomorrow’s challenges, and keep its citizens safe in the next decade and beyond.

The Military Committee, NATO’s highest Military Authority, will hold its first meeting of 2021 in Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Session on 27 January. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Chairman of the Military Committee, will preside over the sessions supported by General Tod Wolters (Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR) and General André Lanata (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, SACT).

On 22 January 2021, Colombian Vice Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs Adriana Mejía, Vice Defence Minister for Strategy and Planning Jairo García, and NATO representatives decided to extend their bilateral cooperation.

In a meeting at NATO Headquarters on Friday (22 January 2021), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili for the close political partnership and strong practical cooperation it has with NATO. He expressed hope that this bond is further strengthened and encouraged Georgia to continue making progress with its reforms.

Today (22 January 2021), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at NATO Headquarters. They discussed a range of issues, including the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Afghanistan and Libya.

Today (21 January 2021), NATO inaugurated a new Cyber Incident Response Capability for the Moldovan Armed Forces. This capability was established with support from the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme and in cooperation with the NATO Information and Communication Agency (NCIA) through a multi-year project. It will help to minimize any threat resulting from cyber incidents, provide quick and efficient recovery and prevent similar incidents in the future. The inauguration was marked through a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony.

On Tuesday, 26 January 2021, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr. Gabrielius Landsbergis, at NATO Headquarters.