NATO News

The Netherlands and United Kingdom took over NATO’s enhanced air policing over Black Sea Allies Bulgaria and Romania this week. UK Typhoons are replacing Italian Eurofighters in Romania, and US F-16 fighter jets continue to reinforce the Alliance's force posture in the country. In Bulgaria, Dutch F-35 fighter jets are taking over from Spanish Eurofighters. In recent years, a number of Allies have helped Bulgaria and Romania to ensure the safety of their airspace. In addition to keeping Allies safe, participation in this joint mission enhances the capability and interoperability of Allied air forces.

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An Information Day took place in Zagreb on Friday (8 April 2022), marking the important achievements accomplished by Croatia in the framework of the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme. Scientists, experts, and government representatives met to take stock of the results of civil scientific cooperation attained amongst Croatia, NATO Allies, and partner countries. They also shared views on the prospects for potential new activities in security-related science and technological innovation, in line with Croatia’s research priorities.

NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels this week (6-7 April 2022) agreed to sustain and further strengthen support for Ukraine, and step up cooperation with partners, given the global implications of President Putin’s unprovoked war on Ukraine.

NATO Allies are launching a ground-breaking initiative to sharpen the Alliance’s technological edge. On Thursday (7 April 2022), Allied foreign ministers approved the Charter of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic – or DIANA. “Working with the private sector and academia, Allies will ensure that we can harness the best of new technology for transatlantic security,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

On Thursday (7 April 2022), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated in the meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States) to discuss the international response to Russia’s brutal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Organised by Germany, the meeting was held at NATO Headquarters, on the margins of NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (7 April 2022) ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers with the participation of partners. ''What you do every day, standing up against the Russian aggression inspires the whole world,'' said the Secretary General.

On Friday, 08 April 2022, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Eui-yong Chung, at NATO Headquarters.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 6 April 2022, ahead of a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg opened a two-day meeting of Foreign Ministers on Wednesday (6 April 2022), saying he expected Allies to address the brutal war in Ukraine.

What was life like for troops on the ground during one of the largest Allied military exercises of 2022?

NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels this week (6-7 April 2022) will address President Putin’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Allies are stepping up their support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself, including with anti-tank weapons, air-defence systems and other equipment, as well as increased humanitarian assistance and financial aid.

On 22 March 2022, NATO organized a public event on “Women Mediators and Peacebuilders in the MENA Region: Leveraging Leadership.” The event was part of NATO’s ongoing efforts to do more in terms of public diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Today marks the 73rd anniversary of NATO. Since its foundation on April 4th 1949, NATO has guaranteed the security and safety of Allied citizens in Europe and North America. Today, the Alliance includes 30 countries and one billion people.

On Monday 4 April 2022, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee sent out a message to Allied troops in commemoration of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic treaty Organisation. In his message Admiral Bauer praised the 3.2 million men and women in uniform for the work they do to keep Allied citizens safe. Together, they form a unique ‘band of brothers and sisters’. Separated by oceans, united by their determination. Admiral Bauer’s message was accompanied by music from the SHAPE International Band. Read the full text below.

On Tuesday 05 April 2022, at 14:00 CET, the NATO Secretary General will brief the press ahead of the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which will take place on 6 and 7 April 2022.

Around ninety Afghan citizens have recently arrived in Lithuania and North Macedonia. The Afghans, who formerly worked for NATO, and their families, were the last evacuees from Afghanistan to leave NATO temporary facilities in Kosovo, where troops of NATO's Response Force had helped to provide care and support. In Kosovo, the Afghans had been provided with housing in individual and family quarters, dining facilities, medical and dental centres, meeting rooms, recreation areas for adults and children, and religious facilities.

On Thursday (31 March 2022), NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană participated in a Foreign Ministers meeting of the Bucharest 9 Initiative, which includes Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The meeting took place in Bratislava, Slovakia, where the Deputy Secretary General also met with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Ivan Korčok, and Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs of the United States, Dr Karen Donfried.

NATO collects defence expenditure data from Allies and publishes it on a regular basis. Each Ally’s Ministry of Defence reports current and estimated future defence expenditure according to an agreed definition of defence expenditure. The amounts represent payments by a national government actually made, or to be made, during the course of the fiscal year to meet the needs of its armed forces, those of Allies or of the Alliance.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg launched his annual report for 2021 on Thursday (31 March 2022), which covers all aspects of the work of the Alliance over the past year. On Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg said NATO had repeatedly warned that Russia was poised to launch a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine: “We prepared for the worst but worked hard for the best. We made every effort to engage Russia in dialogue but Moscow consistently turned us down and ultimately decided to cut diplomatic ties. Last fall, we also took action to heighten the readiness of our forces, deploy more troops to the eastern part of our Alliance and stepped up our support to Ukraine.”