NATO

The June 29-30, 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain will be an historic moment for the Transatlantic Alliance. Building on the President's first NATO Summit.

The U.S. has been a leader in the alliance on spurring NATO’s adaptation to these issues, including by mainstreaming climate considerations in intelligence analysis and assisting with development of a methodology for mapping the NATO enterprise’s greenhouse gas emissions. In recognition of the mutually-reinforcing roles of NATO and the EU in bolstering Euro-Atlantic and international security, the presidents of the European Council and European Commission will join the Summit’s discussions and the Transatlantic dinner hosted by Spain. Allies will also consult with Georgia to express support for its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Strengthened Cyber Resilience and Defense: Building on last year’s adoption of a new Cyber Defense Policy for NATO, Allied leaders will endorse a new action plan to strengthen cyber cooperation across the political, military, and technical levels. NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly has highlighted the importance of democratic resilience to NATO’s strength and unity, and the United States is working with Allies to support and bolster these efforts. Preserving our Technological Edge: Leaders will offer pledges to help stand up a new Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, which will support NATO’s efforts to boost interoperability and ensure that every Ally has access to cutting-edge technological solutions for military needs. Allies will also approve expanded programs to support the defensive needs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova. The United States welcomes the trilateral agreement signed on June 28 by Turkey, Sweden, and Finland that will pave the way for NATO leaders to issue an invitation during the Summit to Sweden and Finland. The United States strongly supports the applications by Sweden and Finland and has prepared all necessary materials for the U.S. Congress to carry out their advice and consent responsibilities, once accession talks have concluded and Allies sign the accession protocols, which is expected to occur in the coming days. In close cooperation with our Allies and hosting nations, President Biden announced today that the United States will take the following additional actions to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense and European security: Allies have also doubled NATO’s battlegroups on the eastern flank, ensuring strong defense from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. At the Summit, Allied leaders will endorse a new strengthened defensive force posture, with a 360-degree view across land, air, sea, cyber, and space, and an emphasis on more combat-credible forward capabilities on the eastern flank. Our Allies are stepping up as well, and have significantly enhanced their contributions to NATO through identified reinforcements and establishment of new combat-credible structures able to scale up to brigade size across the eastern flank. The Summit will provide an opportunity to advance collective efforts with these Allies and partners to strengthen the rules-based international order. A New Strategic Concept: Allied leaders will endorse NATO’s next Strategic Concept, the first update since 2010 for this key public document which describes how NATO will address threats and challenges in its security environment in coming years.

“President (Vladimir) Putin's war against Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe and has created the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Second World ...

The decision has to be ratified by all individual nations, but he said he was “absolutely confident” Finland and Sweden would become members. Turkey hailed Tuesday’s agreement as a triumph, saying the Nordic nations had agreed to crack down on groups that Ankara deems national security threats, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is also considered a terrorist group by the U.S. and the EU, and its Syrian extension. The last such document, in 2010, called Russia a “strategic partner.” Now, the alliance is set to declare Moscow its No. 1 threat. The troops will be based in their home nations but dedicated to specific countries on NATO’s eastern flank, where the alliance plans to build up stocks of equipment and ammunition. “We are deterring Russia to prevent it from destroying us and from destroying you.” The alliance promised to more support for Ukraine, which has already received billions in military and civilian aid from NATO countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly pointed to NATO's post-Cold War enlargement as one of the many reasons for his invasion of Ukraine. But Russia's ...

- "The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them safer, NATO stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure. And it also demonstrates that we respect the sovereign right of every nation to choose their own path." What they're saying: "Today, we have decided to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO, and agreed to sign the Accession Protocols," NATO leaders wrote in a summit declaration issued Wednesday.

NATO countries, welcoming Finland and Sweden and announcing a surge of forces, hope to signal to Moscow that their commitment to Ukraine is not waning.

Significant disagreements have also emerged between some of the NATO countries over how hard to push for an end to the war in Ukraine and how to continue supporting the beleaguered country in the face of economic fallout back home. “And it is not just a problem for European countries.” “The timing is obviously excellent,” the senior administration official said. At a summit of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies earlier this week, leaders were unable to agree on the specifics of a deal to impose price caps on Russian oil. Still, the war could drag on for months or years, and its final geopolitical impact is far from clear. NATO’s resurgence and expansion, after years when it sometimes seemed adrift, was intended to signal that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is having an impact opposite from the one he sought.

As the NATO summit kicks off in Madrid today, one thing is clear: It's going to be the most important summit of the week. NATO today defined Russia as its No. 1 ...

The policy is, in essence, a price-fixing cartel, which is illegal on both sides of the Atlantic. And precisely the sort of “non-market policy” the leaders criticized China for enacting. "The long and short of it is that the only way to get the grain out quickly is by sea, and that would require some form of escorting mission or Russian acquiescence. THE FIFTH AVENUE BUILDING WHERE FOREIGN BILLIONAIRES FLOCK: Olympic Tower “is a building obsessed with anonymity,” reports Matthew Sedacca. Some residents have gone decades without even seeing their next-door neighbors. But they did manage to back a call for funding new gas infrastructure and exploration, even as they met in the shadow of a dying glacier. NATO is a more natural venue for discussing an escort mission,” he added. Cavoli, who now commands U.S. Army forces on the continent, will succeed Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters as head of U.S. European Command and NATO supreme allied commander. The U.N. has been trying to negotiate a deal with Russia, but that’s predictably gone nowhere. The statements and promises flowed ceaselessly, but did nothing to fundamentally alter the course of Russia’s war in Ukraine, limit runaway global inflation or avert a looming famine. NEW NATO COMMANDER STARTS FRIDAY: Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, Biden’s nominee to lead U.S. forces in Europe (dual-hatted as NATO’s top commander), starts July 1. POLITICO’s Lili Bayer spoke to over 20 ministers, ambassadors, diplomats and NATO senior staff about the alliance’s future. — Turkey isn’t the only “problem child” at this year’s annual summit. It’s no small task: The current NATO response force comprises approximately 40,000 troops.

At the Madrid Summit on Wednesday (29 June 2022), Allied leaders were joined by some of NATO's closest partners to address global challenges.

President Biden announces new U.S. troops in Europe during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's summit in Madrid. (Susan ...

But the war in Ukraine is leading to “the NATO-ization of Europe,” Biden said. “There has been no communication with Moscow about these changes, nor is there a requirement to do that,” said John Kirby, a spokesman for Biden’s National Security Council. “And the steps we’re taking during this summit, we’re going to further augment our collective strength.” Once every member nation’s parliament has ratified the expansion, which is expected to take several months, NATO’s territory will include Finland’s 810-mile border with Russia — more evidence, Biden said, that invading Ukraine has backfired on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Between NATO sessions, Biden met with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, calling the cooperation between the three countries “essential.” The U.S. also will send two additional F-35 fighter squadrons to Britain and bolster “air defense and other capabilities” in Germany and Italy, Biden said. “And that’s exactly what he didn’t want — but exactly what needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe.” “Putin was looking for the Finland-ization of Europe,” Biden said, referring to Helsinki’s decades-long embrace of nonalignment for fear of angering Moscow. Biden emphasized that the alliance was committed to defending “every inch” of territory under its charter’s “sacrosanct” Article V, which deems an attack on a member nation to be an attack against all. That protective umbrella is expected to cover Sweden and Finland in a historic expansion of the alliance after Turkey on Tuesday dropped its objections to the two countries joining. “NATO is strong and united,” Biden said during a meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, on the first full day of a summit here. Reflecting NATO’s determination to strengthen its defenses amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, President Biden announced Wednesday that the U.S. would commit more troops to Europe as the transatlantic alliance formally invited Finland and Sweden to become members.

President Joe Biden earlier announced an increased U.S. military presence in Europe as the alliance began a summit in Madrid with a series of moves made ...

And the invasion this year saw opinion polls shift, showing most people were in favor of joining. Nevertheless, many experts say NATO’s likely enlargement is a huge blow for the Russian president, not only symbolically but practically. "So in that respect, it's an acknowledgement about how the security in Europe has changed." It has also struggled for a grander sense of purpose in a post-Cold War world. Troops from both countries fought and died alongside Americans in Afghanistan. For years NATO has been tortured by accusations, led by former President Donald Trump, that some member states are not pulling their financial weight.

“We condemn the irresponsible course of the North Atlantic Alliance that is ruining the European architecture, or what's left of it,” Russian deputy foreign ...

This has nothing to do with real life; it’s the alliance that poses a threat to us.” The decision followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has prompted Russian neighbours to appeal to Nato for additional security guarantees. “This can only be regretted.”

Russian threat: The “virtual rapid response cyber capability” comes after months of Russian cyberattacks in Ukraine as part of the war and amid concerns that ...

It also pledged to work with the private sector to counter threats, formally recognized threats in cyberspace posed by Russia and China, and promised to update NATO’s command structure to reflect new cyber threats. The program is voluntary. The U.S. will offer “robust national capabilities” to support this program, according to a fact sheet put out by the White House on Wednesday.

When the leaders of Finland, Sweden and Turkey met with NATO's chief this week, some remained pessimistic the meeting would lessen Turkey's objections to ...

The expats by no means include only supporters of the PKK and the YPG. We could not come to this kind of meeting and then agree to change the legislation. In addition, they pledged not to support the network of exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey calls the network FETO and designates it as another terror group. The official said Turkey never asked the U.S. for anything as part of the talks with Sweden, Finland and Stoltenberg. It is already listed as such by the United States and the European Union, to which Sweden and Finland belong. “We will never extradite Swedish citizens,” Andersson said. “All parties repeated their old positions and how they see the situation. “Our red line is that we are not changing our legislation on any issues. ISTANBUL -- When the leaders of Finland, Sweden and Turkey met with NATO’s chief Tuesday, the potential for progress was hard to predict. Turkish media, which mostly follow a pro-government editorial line, welcomed the NATO agreement. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed the news about 20 minutes later and disclosed details of the memorandum. Turkey argued the two countries were lax on groups it considers to be national security threats.

President Joe Biden said at a NATO summit in Madrid that the United States would send additional troops to eastern Europe.

Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea's decision to attend the summit for the first time is significant. How the West handles Russian aggression in Ukraine will affect how Xi approaches Taiwan, the U.S. president has stressed. - "The world is looking at us. Separately, Biden will hold a joint meeting with Japan's Fumio Kishida and South Korea's Yoon Seok-youl at the summit site. The leaders spoke by phone Monday ahead of an expected face-to-face conversation at the NATO summit. Biden will jointly meet with Japanese and South Korean leaders on Wednesday. The U.S. president is also expected to meet with Turkey's Erdoğan. On a trip to Asia last month, Biden said China is " flirting with danger" and recommitted the U.S. to defending Taiwan, which is a democratically-governed part of China, if Xi attempts to take control by force. We're stepping up," Biden said. - President Pedro Sánchez of Spain told leaders at their first group session that entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO "is a milestone" that will make the alliance stronger. - Biden said as he arrived at the NATO gathering site that it will be a "history-making summit," where leaders will "reaffirm the unity and determination to our alliance to defend every inch NATO territory." - Biden asserted that Finland's and Sweden's decision to move away from neutrality to join NATO will make the alliance stronger and more secure. Biden announced the U.S. would establish a permanent troop presence in Poland and maintain an additional rotational brigade of 3,000 fighters and 2,000 personnel in Romania. The troops in Poland will be the first permanent U.S. forces on NATO’s eastern flank.

Australia's prime minister is calling on China to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is welcoming NATO's interest in Asia-Pacific security.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Both leaders also discussed the need to find ways to allow Ukrainian grain exports. ___ ___

Sweden and Finland on Wednesday looked set for fast-track membership of NATO after Turkey lifted a veto on them joining, at a summit where the U.S.-led ...

NATO is also aiming to have as many as 300,000 troops ready for deployment in case of conflict, part of an enlarged NATO response force. The Western alliance is also set to agree that big allies such as the United States, Germany, Britain and Canada pre-assign troops, weapons and equipment to the Baltics and intensify training exercises. "He wanted less NATO. Now President Putin is getting more NATO on his borders." But Stoltenberg has repeatedly called on Beijing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow says is a "special operation". And I believe it will be decisive as well," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a think-tank event in the summit margins. Russia was previously classed as a strategic partner of NATO.

Arriving at the start of the NATO Summit in Madrid on Wednesday (29 June 2022), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg outlined the key decisions that will be ...

“Russia has walked away from the partnership and the dialogue that NATO has tried to establish with Russia for many years. “Leaders will also make a historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO,” said Mr Stoltenberg, adding that this was made possible by the trilateral agreement reached on Tuesday between Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden. Arriving at the start of the NATO Summit in Madrid on Wednesday (29 June 2022), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg outlined the key decisions that will be taken to transform the Alliance and protect its citizens.

On Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to put 300,000 troops at high readiness as part of the “biggest overhaul of our ...

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. Throughout the years that former president Donald Trump held office, the secretary general presented defense spending figures calculated to communicate how much commitments had increased since Trump took office in 2017, even though NATO spending had actually started rising after the Russian annexation of Crimea three years earlier. Policymakers said the change will shift NATO’s presence in the region from that of a tripwire — a somewhat symbolic presence meant to dissuade the Kremlin from invading — to a real defensive force that could credibly hold back Russian forces long enough for reinforcements to arrive. “We will have to do more to build up the model before we can work out what national commitments can be.” Even the 300,000 total is theoretical for the moment: “The concept has not been fully worked up yet,” the official said. The official wondered which of his nation’s troops were being counted toward the force — and whether it included personnel from a volunteer national guard who have civilian day jobs.

The European Union. Georgia. Finland and Sweden. And for the first time at a NATO Summit, our Indo-Pacific partners: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the ...

And now, in the coming months, I expect more Allies to commit more forces so when they make decisions, they of course have to also realise that that also will require more forces from NATO Allies at higher readiness organised in a way which makes them available for NATO operations, missions and NATO commanders, if needed. And the good news is that more and more Allies have actually announced forces to fill that new Force Structure with substance. Because that's the reason why we have increased our presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, why NATO Allies have started to invest more in defence, and why we have increased the readiness. And that has made it impossible for us to continue to have the kind of partnership, engagement with Russia that we have worked for so long. And then, of course, when Allies commit to new Force Structure, we also expect them to deliver the forces. But NATO has to have an open mind and engage with also countries which are not as like-minded as the countries gathered in that room. NATO Secretary General: I met with the Georgian Prime Minister. We discussed and addressed, of course, how we can, as you asked about, step up our practical and political partnership and support for Georgia. We will step up both the political and practical support for Georgia with a new package to help build their capabilities and also strengthen their resilience. So this is the core … for the land element to the NATO new Force Model and the new Force Structure. We've also planned to provide additional personnel for our NATO Liaison Office in Georgia. And then, of course, we have also other elements like the training and evaluation centre in Tbilisi and other elements that can further strengthen our partnership with Georgia. On the membership issue, while we stand by the decision we've taken before but we're not going to give any dates. And we're also waiting for the historic decision from NATO to invite Georgia. We are living, as you many times mentioned, in an unpredictable world but still, in the context of the open door policy, what message are you sending today from Madrid to Georgia? When window of opportunity will be for Georgia? You met with Georgian Prime Minister, he had a speech. But the difference is that they will now be organised in ways that can fit them into NATO operations, fit them into NATO defence planning, and be available for NATO commanders. And then, of course, Allies have to contribute forces to that new Force Model. That is in many ways the same as we've done before when we have made similar decisions.

In a last minute deal, Turkey dropped its objections to Finland and Sweden joining the security alliance — all but ensuring NATO's enlargement in the midst ...

You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. If you click “Agree and Continue” below, you acknowledge that your cookie choices in those tools will be respected and that you otherwise agree to the use of cookies on NPR’s sites. NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites (together, “cookies”) to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic.

NATO heads of state and government meeting in Madrid on Wednesday (29 June 2022) approved a new Strategic Concept for the Alliance, setting out the ...

The documents also states that climate change is “a defining challenge of our time”. The Strategic Concept is updated roughly every decade and is NATO’s second most important document. NATO heads of state and government meeting in Madrid on Wednesday (29 June 2022) approved a new Strategic Concept for the Alliance, setting out the Alliance’s priorities, core tasks and approaches for the next decade. The document defines Russia as the “most significant and direct threat” to Allies’ security, while addressing China for the first time and the challenges that Beijing poses toward Allies’ security, interests and values.

NPR's A Martinez talks to retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, a former NATO commander, about measures the security organization can adopt to better defend ...

You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. If you click “Agree and Continue” below, you acknowledge that your cookie choices in those tools will be respected and that you otherwise agree to the use of cookies on NPR’s sites. NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites (together, “cookies”) to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic.

Helsinki and Stockholm joining NATO marks one of the the biggest shifts in European security in decades. Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the 6th ...

Helsinki and Stockholm joining NATO marks one of the biggest shifts in European security in decades. “With Sweden and Finland, we don’t have the problems that we have with Ukraine. They want to join NATO, go ahead,” Putin told Russian state television after talks with regional leaders in the central Asian ex-Soviet state of Turkmenistan. Helsinki and Stockholm joining NATO marks one of the the biggest shifts in European security in decades.

A trilateral agreement between Finland, Sweden and Turkey appears to give few concrete concessions to Ankara.

On a call with reporters Tuesday, a senior administration official also said that Turkey did not ask the United States for any specific allowances. “This is the strategic thinking behind this whole dog and pony show. “The United States supports Turkey’s modernization of its fighter fleet because that is a contribution to NATO security and therefore American security.” One of his goals, Tahiroglu said, was face time with President Biden and other NATO leaders. An 11th-hour deal between Finland, Sweden and Turkey persuaded Erdogan to drop his objections. NATO on Wednesday announced it was formally inviting Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.

Joe Biden vowed that the U.S. "is back" after he took office. But some foreign officials see the Supreme Court undercutting its return to pre-Trump form.

Shaheen was asked at a NATO public forum event on Wednesday whether the U.S. has lost credibility on global women’s issues as a result of the Supreme Court decision. We have led the world in many respects, not exclusively, in expansion of the rights of women,” Durbin added. Eleven of the 30 NATO foreign ministers are women, and several NATO heads of state and government released statements affirming the right to an abortion immediately after Friday’s court decision. After defeating Trump on a promise to show the rest of the world a more stable America, Biden is now contending with a high court that could make that job even harder. Connolly declined to name the foreign ministers who spoke up at the dinner. And that’s pretty important when you’re supposed to be helping to lead a military alliance to take on the big bad Russians.” We will have plenty of time immediately when we return to disagree sharply.” “And I think this [ruling] really raises a question as to our commitment in the future.” The episode harkened back to Donald Trump‘s presidency, when lawmakers and diplomats routinely fielded questions from foreign counterparts expressing concern, anxiety and even outrage at the then-president’s statements and behavior. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who leads NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly, joined Secretary of State Antony Blinken and 29 other foreign ministers at the dinner. At least four diplomats in the room aired concerns with the Court’s decision last week overturning Roe v. But some foreign officials see the Supreme Court undercutting its return to pre-Trump form.

Also, Shanghai wrestles with the scars of Covid lockdowns and religious unrest spreads in India.

P.S. Has the war in Ukraine changed your view of the world? “They’re so much a part of the heritage of Cairo.” The tailor, Kanhaiya Lal Teli, had posted on WhatsApp in support of her. Ressa vowed to appeal the decision. The Times is looking for examples, both big and small, from readers. The secretary general of NATO announced plans to deploy thousands of new troops assigned to bases in eight countries on NATO’s eastern flank. Official response: The Indian government deployed its counterterrorism force to investigate. In a television appearance this month, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party made insulting remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. Two Muslim men were killed at a protest calling for the spokeswoman’s arrest. Every district in Shanghai will be briefly locked down each weekend until the end of July for mass testing. During the lockdown, calls to mental health hotlines in Shanghai surged. It followed formal membership invitations to Finland and Sweden — paving the way for NATO’s most significant enlargement in more than a decade. Shanghai, China’s most populous city, has emerged from the depths of its devastating spring Covid outbreak.

"Today, NATO leaders decided a fundamental shift in our defence and deterrence to respond to a new security reality," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ...

But for NATO, the new force model is not just a return to its Cold War posture. And those are important too." We will transform the NATO Response Force and increase the number of high readiness forces to well over 300,000," he added. The move replaces the NATO Response Force, which was for years the first to respond to any Russian attack or other crisis. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

NATO is facing rebukes from Moscow and Beijing after it declared Russia a “direct threat” and said China posed “serious challenges” to global stability.

“Putin was looking for the Finland-ization of Europe,” Biden said. China accused the alliance of “maliciously attacking and smearing” the country. When it comes to acts that undermine China’s interests, we will make firm and strong responses,” its statement said. It announced plans to increase almost eightfold the size of the alliance’s rapid reaction force, from 40,000 to 300,000 troops, by next year. “The question is, who’s next? Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he would respond in kind if the Nordic pair allowed NATO troops and military infrastructure onto their territory.

President Joe Biden and his fellow NATO leaders depart a highly consequential summit on Thursday that rendered the defense alliance larger, more muscular ...

It has given the organization a renewed sense of purpose after years wavering on how to approach Russia. The path was cleared for the two countries, each with long histories of military non-alignment, after Turkey dropped its objections, giving this summit a somewhat unexpected boost as it commenced. Before returning to Washington, Biden will convene a news conference Thursday where he's certain to address the state of the war.

On Thursday (30 June 2022), at a signing ceremony hosted by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Leaders and Ministers from 22 Allied countries* ...

There has also been significant progress for DIANA at the 2022 Madrid Summit where Allies agreed that innovators participating in DIANA’s programs will have access to a network of more than 9 Accelerator Sites and more than 63 Test Centres across Europe and North America. The Fund will complement NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic – or DIANA – which will support the development and adaptation of dual-use emerging technologies to critical security and defence challenges. "This fund is unique", the Secretary General said, "with a 15-year timeframe, the NATO Innovation Fund will help bring to life those nascent technologies that have the power to transform our security in the decades to come, strengthening the Alliance’s innovation ecosystem and bolstering the security of our one billion citizens."

At the NATO summit in Madrid, alliance leaders — including President Joe Biden and alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg — are emphasizing that the ...

"The decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members demonstrates that NATO's door is open," Stoltenberg said. NATO allies will continue to provide major military and financial help to Ukraine as it faces the powerful foe. Russia was cooperating with the alliance in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans, and that was encouraging to western leaders. Zelenskyy spoke to the assembled NATO leaders from Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and made clear that Ukraine desperately needs their continued help, Stoltenberg said. "NATO has responded with strength and unity, and [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy's leadership and courage are an inspiration to all of us." The alliance extended an open door to newly democratic nations.

The NATO Summit in Madrid drew to a close on Thursday (30 June 2022) with decisions to transform and strengthen the Alliance.

A new NATO Innovation Fund to help the Alliance sharpen its technological edge was also launched at the Summit. NATO leaders met with key partners to address global challenges and Indo-Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea participated together in a NATO Summit for the first time. At his closing press conference the NATO Secretary General said: “We face the most serious security situation in decades. Leaders endorsed a new NATO Strategic Concept, the blueprint for the Alliance in a more dangerous and competitive world.

That breakthrough came during a NATO summit in Madrid that has already become one of the most consequential meetings in the history of the military alliance.

He added that Russia's reaction would depend on "how far and how close to our borders the military infrastructure will move." Russia currently shares about 755 miles of land border with five NATO members, according to the alliance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after the announcement that "NATO expansion does not make the world more stable and secure." Its Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said at the time that the move would be a "mistake" with "far-reaching consequences," according to Russian state news agency TASS. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February, Finnish public support for joining NATO has leaped from around 30% to nearly 80% in some polls. Sweden and Finland's "decision to move away from neutrality and the tradition of neutrality to join the NATO alliance is going to make us stronger and more secure and NATO stronger," Biden said. The term was coined during the Cold War and has been applied to other countries in which a superpower exerts control over smaller neighboring states. "There's going to be preparations for contingencies as part of deterring any adventures that the Russians might be thinking of," Bildt said. The point of the treaty, and Article 5 specifically, was to deter the Soviets from attacking liberal democracies that lacked military strength. Article 5 guarantees that the resources of the whole alliance -- including the massive US military -- can be used to protect any single member nation, such as smaller countries that would be defenseless without their allies. "He's going to get the NATOization of Europe, and that is exactly what he did not want, that's exactly what needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe. And I think it's necessary," Biden said. Its King Gustav XIV formally adopted that neutral status in 1834, according to NATO

by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government (2022 NATO Summit).

One is to provide support to Ukraine. NATO and NATO Allies provide unprecedented support to Ukraine. We are stepping up and we agreed a package at this Summit. But we also have a core responsibility, of course, to prevent escalation beyond Ukraine. That's the reason why NATO is not part of the conflict on the ground. And we live in a world where we have actually a hot war going on in Europe, with large scale military operations we haven't seen in Europe since the Second World War. Of course, this is imposing suffering on the Ukrainian people. We have unprecedented numbers of troops on the eastern flank; a hot war, not a Cold War, in Ukraine. Has the world entered into an era that is even more dangerous than the Cold War? And based on your discussions with leaders, do you have a sense that there's consensus and unity around what are the red lines that Russia must not cross to avoid a direct conflict? What I can say is that the agreement we have reached today represents a considerable significant increase in NATO's common funded budgets, and that will enable us to invest more together in prepositioned equipment, in hardened shelters, in infrastructure, and to ensure that we can plug and play capabilities together in NATO. Also with more command and control and also to provide more support to our partners and also to have more exercises. At the end of the day, it will always be a political decision to invoke Article 5, but rest assured NATO is there to protect and defend all Allies. And also, I think it demonstrates that Spain is really a highly valued and important NATO Ally, and it's a very good way for Spain to celebrate, to mark, the 40th anniversary of your membership. We are following up on the decision we made in principle last year that we need to invest more together because in a more dangerous world we need to strengthen what we do together in NATO. And we have decided a trajectory for common funding up to 2030. We are 32 different countries with different political parties in government and different culture, different history, different geography, from both sides of the Atlantic. So you will always find differences. We are also taking note of messages from Moscow actually, that it doesn't change that much that Finland and Sweden are joining the Alliance. While they have communicated different messages from Moscow on that issue, the most important thing for us is that Finland and Sweden will become members of the Alliance. We are there to protect all Allies, and of course also Finland and Sweden. And we are prepared for all eventualities. NATO Secretary General: We support the idea of bringing a lot of advanced equipment, including also Western modern equipment and many different types of equipment, you have seen announcements. NATO Secretary General: The political decision, the real decision to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO was taken at this Summit yesterday. When it comes to Finland and Sweden. Finland and Sweden are sovereign nations and they have the right to choose their own path and to join NATO. We have welcomed them into our Alliance. We are, of course, prepared for any eventuality.

NATO military officials said Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's announcement earlier this week that 300000 troops would be placed on high alert across the ...

The document, last updated in 2010, lays out the security challenges facing the defensive alliance while outlining a course of actions. It was a point of apparent confusion and disjointedness in an otherwise highly choreographed show of unity among the allies. But it now appears that number is more aspirational, and is based on a new model NATO believes will take at least another year to accomplish.

During the 2022 summit in Madrid, NATO declared Russia a “direct threat” and said China posed “serious challenges" to global stability.

Now, NATO is accusing Russia of using "coercion, subversion, aggression and annexation" to extend its reach. China accused the alliance of "maliciously attacking and smearing" the country. When it comes to acts that undermine China’s interests, we will make firm and strong responses," its statement said. "You’re gonna get the NATO-ization of Europe," Biden said. But it was Russia that dominated the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he would respond in kind if the Nordic pair allowed NATO troops and military infrastructure onto their territory.

MADRID (AP) — An unstable world could get even more dangerous if NATO does not remain strong and united, the head of the alliance said Thursday at the end ...

When it comes to acts that undermine China’s interests, we will make firm and strong responses,” a statement from Beijing’s mission to the European Union said. “And we would see democracies in the world stand up and oppose his aggression and defend the rules-based order. Stoltenberg said “Moscow and Beijing are using economic leverage, coercion and hybrid approaches to advance their interests in the region.” Host country Spain, one of the lowest spenders in the alliance, aims to hit the 2% target by 2029, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he would respond in kind if Sweden or Finland agreed to host NATO troops and military infrastructure. “The question is, who’s next? “At the same time, we also know that this can get worse.” That territory is set to grow. During their three-day meeting in Madrid, NATO members confronted a geopolitical landscape marked by big-power competition and myriad threats, from cyberattacks to climate change. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominated the summit. “We live in a more dangerous world and we live in a more unpredictable world, and we live in a world where we have a hot war going on in Europe,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. That is why the Western military alliance has a “core responsibility” to keep the war in Ukraine from spilling into other countries while making clear to Moscow that it would “protect every inch of NATO territory,” Stoltenberg said.

MADRID — The Latest on the final day of the NATO summit in Madrid: Turkey's president is hailing his country's joint memorandum with Sweden and Finland over ...

When it comes to acts that undermine China’s interests, we will make firm and strong responses.” While Russia was named its top threat, NATO included China for the first time. On Wednesday, NATO nations pledged their continued support for Ukraine in its efforts to resist Russia’s invasion. Scholz said Thursday that “we stand ready to assure both countries of support already now as long as the accession process isn’t formally concluded.” ___ ___ He’s talking with U.S. allies about setting a cap on the price of Russian oil, limiting how much money that Moscow can make from its exports. ___ ___ ___ ___ The deal signed Tuesday removed Turkey’s objection to the Nordic countries’ NATO membership.

After NATO leaders formally decided to invite Sweden and Finland to join the bloc, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Vladimir Putin “wanted less NATO ...

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. France’s Macron angered some of his NATO allies by warning publicly of the risk of humiliating Russia. Further divisions on weapons supplies, sanctions and the potential for Ukraine to join NATO are inevitable. Pew’s polling suggested drastically divergent views of NATO among the populations of its 30 member states, with a high of 89 percent approval in Poland but a dismal 33 percent in Greece. Even behind the united front on Ukraine, there are differences. Turkey, close to Russia on several key issues, only agreed to not veto the membership bids of Sweden and Finland late Tuesday. It gained some major concessions for doing so. The war will certainly strengthen NATO. Sweden and Finland both had, to varying degrees, histories of neutrality. The fight: A slowly regenerating Russian army is making incremental gains in eastern Ukraine against valiant but underequipped Ukrainian forces. A rewritten NATO Strategic Concept directly discussed China — a big change from the last document, which didn’t mention the nation at all. Positive views of NATO membership also shot up in both Sweden and Finland before they applied to join. With an enemy to focus on, NATO has a renewed sense of purpose. While Ukrainian membership was not in the cards anytime soon, Kyiv’s growing relationship with the United States and other NATO powers has been used as a justification for Russia’s decision to invade on Feb. 24. Just three years ago, French President Emmanuel Macron complained it was facing “brain death.” For years after the Soviet Union collapsed, NATO looked like a military alliance in search of an enemy. Now, Ukraine is flush with weapons and other support from NATO member states.

MADRID — NATO came together in a rare wartime meeting this week and showed a united front on arming and supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, ...

“The erosion of the arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation architecture has negatively impacted strategic stability,” the new Strategic Concept paper says. On Monday, Stoltenberg kicked off the summit with major news: 300,000 troops across the continent and beyond would be placed on high readiness as part of the “biggest overhaul of our collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War.” The costs of the agreement appear to be minimal. In Madrid, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese drew some parallels between Russia and China to drive home the issues he’s dealing with on the other side of the world. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that if Russia wins in Ukraine, “Putin will be in a position to commit further acts of aggression against other parts of the former Soviet Union more or less with impunity.” “China is not our adversary,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, unveiling the new document on Wednesday, “but we must be clear-eyed about the serious challenges it represents.”

NATO members confronted a geopolitical landscape marked by big-power competition and myriad threats, from cyberattacks to climate change.

When it comes to acts that undermine China’s interests, we will make firm and strong responses,” a statement from Beijing’s mission to the European Union said. “And we would see democracies in the world stand up and oppose his aggression and defend the rules-based order. Stoltenberg said “Moscow and Beijing are using economic leverage, coercion and hybrid approaches to advance their interests in the region.” Host country Spain, one of the lowest spenders in the alliance, aims to hit the 2% target by 2029, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he would respond in kind if Sweden or Finland agreed to host NATO troops and military infrastructure. “The question is, who’s next? “At the same time, we also know that this can get worse.” That territory is set to grow. During their three-day meeting in Madrid, NATO members confronted a geopolitical landscape marked by big-power competition and myriad threats, from cyberattacks to climate change. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominated the summit. “We live in a more dangerous world and we live in a more unpredictable world, and we live in a world where we have a hot war going on in Europe,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. That is why the Western military alliance has a “core responsibility” to keep the war in Ukraine from spilling into other countries while making clear to Moscow that it would “protect every inch of NATO territory,” Stoltenberg said.

NATO leaders concluded their three-day meeting in Madrid Thursday with the Western security alliance strengthening its defense against Russian aggression, ...

The country continues to purchase massive amounts of Russian oil, gas and coal. “At that time, it characterized Russia as a partner, and it didn't mention China. The world has changed, changed a great deal since then, and NATO is changing as well. “He tried to weaken us, expected our resolve to fracture but he's getting exactly what he did not want,” Biden said. Reaffirming commitments made by other Western leaders, Biden said the U.S. will stand firm against Russia’s aggression. “We also launched what started off to be the Build Back Better notion, but it's morphed into a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment,” he said referring to the “Build Back Better World” initiative announced at the 2021 meeting of the Group of Seven leaders in Cornwall, UK and relaunched earlier this week as the PGII at the G-7 summit of leading industrialized nations in Krün, Germany. At this summit, we rallied our alliances to meet both the direct threats that Russia poses to Europe and the systemic challenges that China poses to a rules-based world order.