NATO update

 

NATO Allies train Ukrainian soldiers on Leopard tanks in Poland Ukrainian tank operators have been going through a condensed 30-day training course on the Leopard tanks in Poland. Military instructors from Canada, Norway and Poland have been training the Ukrainians both in virtual simulators and in live-fire and manoeuvre exercises. The training took place at the Leopard training centre in Świetoszow, Poland. The Polish-led programme is aimed at helping Ukraine uphold its right to self-defence enshrined in the UN Charter against Russia’s war of aggression. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of Ukrainian tank operators driving Leopard tanks and training on simulators. It also includes interviews with Polish and Canadian instructors. NATO fighter pilots train at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program The next generation of Allied fighter pilots is being trained at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) Program, a multinational training program based at Sheppard Air Force Base in the United States. Allied students go to Texas to learn the fundamentals of flight, progressing from ground school to the prop-driven T-6 Texan trainer - and finally, to the T-38 Talon, a supersonic jet trainer that prepares them for the physical and mental strain of flying a tactical aircraft. With 12-hour working days and plenty of bookwork to supplement the flying, ENJJPT ensures that only the most skilled and dedicated graduates are certified to serve as fighter pilots in their nation’s air forces. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of students and instructors flying in T-38 Talons from Sheppard Air Force Base, as well as an interview with the Vice Commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing. Italian and American soldiers swap rations Every army in NATO has its own field ration. While perhaps not the height of culinary expression, these rations give soldiers the calories they need to power through a hard day in the field. From Ally to Ally, their contents differ in small, interesting ways. Watch a US and Italian paratrooper swap their ration packs while on exercise in Italy. From warm pizza in a packet to ravioli in a can and toothbrushes, these soldiers may be from different continents but they find common ground in condiments. Filmed during joint airborne operations, about 800 paratroopers from the US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Italian Army’s 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment and the German Army’s 26th Airborne Regiment performed several jumps over a drop zone in northern Italy. Click here to download the video and here for the b-roll. You can also watch the video on YouTube.

Press Release 13 April 2023

18th Annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation NATO and the US State Department are jointly organizing the 18th Annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Non-Proliferation on 17-20 April 2023, in Washington DC. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will deliver remarks at the opening session of the conference on April 18 and participate in a Q&A session. Secretary General will join the event online. The opening session will be livestreamed on the NATO website and on the State Department website. The rest of the event is not public. NATO has organised the Annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non-Proliferation since 2004. This unique event provides a venue for senior national officials to discuss informally WMD threats and regularly includes more than 150 attendees from around 50 countries. The 18th Annual Conference is hosted for the first time in North America.

NATO Deputy Secretary General: the Black Sea region is important for Euro-Atlantic security In an address to the Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform in Bucharest on 13 April 2023, Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană underlined the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for Euro-Atlantic security. READ MORE

NATO-built shelter site opens for quake survivors in Türkiye Following February’s devastating earthquake in Türkiye, the first people began moving into tented accommodation provided by NATO on 10 April 2023. Located in Antakya, the temporary relief site will provide housing, food and water for up to 2,400 people seeking shelter. NATO is also setting up temporary shelters in Iskenderun and Defne for thousands left homeless by the earthquakes. READ MORE Romanian F-16s launch first alert scramble safeguarding Baltic airspace On 7 April 2023, two Romanian F-16 fighter jets from NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission launched to identify and escort two Russian Suhoi Su-27 Flanker fighters. The formation of two unidentified aircraft was detected flying over international waters within NATO area of responsibility. (Story courtesy of Allied Air Command) READ MORE NATO minehunters search Icelandic waters for World War II unexploded mines NATO minehunters spent the first week of April scouring an area of 20 nautical miles off the coast of Iceland, in search of unexploded ordnance. The five ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) are equipped with specialist kit and personnel to undertake this important task. (Story courtesy of Allied Maritime Command) READ MORE Swedish Vice Admiral Jonas Björnson Haggren visits Allied Command Transformation in preparation for Sweden’s military integration into NATO As Sweden prepares to join NATO, military representatives from Sweden met with Allied Command Transformation staff to discuss accession and integration considerations. (Story courtesy of Allied Command Transformation) READ MORE Allied Command Transformation completes NATO Model event at George Washington University On 5 April 2023, Allied Command Transformation ran a NATO Model Event at The George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs. Students simulated a North Atlantic Council session and discussed whether NATO should adopt a High North policy. (Story courtesy of Allied Command Transformation) READ MORE Italian and American soldiers swap rations Every army in NATO has its own field ration. While perhaps not the height of culinary expression, these rations give soldiers the calories they need to power through a hard day in the field. From Ally to Ally, their contents differ in small, interesting ways. WATCH VIDEO THIS WEEK IN PICTURES

Finland joins NATO as 31st Ally Finland became NATO’s newest member on 4 April 2023, upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. NATO Allies signed Finland’s Accession Protocol on 5 July 2022, after which all 30 national parliaments voted to ratify the country’s membership. READ MORE NATO foreign ministers wrap up meetings with focus on China and support to Ukraine NATO foreign ministers wrapped up two days of discussions in Brussels on 5 April with a meeting with Indo-Pacific partners – Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea – and the European Union. “We discussed the global consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He stressed that if President Putin wins in Ukraine, it would send a dangerous message to authoritarian leaders around the world that they can achieve their goals through brute force. READ MORE Secretary General welcomes Indo-Pacific partner countries to NATO HQ NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Nanaia Mahuta, Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Do Hoon Lee and Deputy Ambassador of Australia to NATO David Dutton to NATO Headquarters on 5 April. READ MORE NATO foreign ministers reconfirm strong support for Ukraine In a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on 4 April, Allied foreign ministers reaffirmed their strong support for Ukraine. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that Allies will develop a multi-year initiative to help ensure Ukraine’s deterrence and defence, make the transition from Soviet-era equipment and doctrines to NATO standards, and increase interoperability with NATO. READ MORE Secretary General welcomes US Secretary of State to NATO NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to NATO Headquarters on 4 April at the start of a two-day meeting of foreign ministers. The Secretary General thanked the United States for its steadfast support to Ukraine, and said that the ministerial will address topics including enduring support to Kyiv, defence investment, cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners and China’s assertive behaviour. READ MORE Secretary General welcomes Foreign Minister of Ukraine to NATO NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to NATO Headquarters on 4 April. The Secretary General commended Ukraine’s continued push-back against Russia’s war of aggression, saying that today’s meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission will address “how to sustain and further step up the urgent support to Ukraine. Both military support, but also economic and financial support”. READ MORE Secretary General welcomes Foreign Minister of Japan to NATO NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to NATO Headquarters on 4 April. “No other partner is closer and more capable than Japan,” he said. The Secretary General welcomed Japan’s partnership with NATO, noting that security is global and “what happens in Europe matters for Asia.” READ MORE NATO celebrates historic 74th anniversary, with Finland set to join NATO Day is commemorated in capitals across the Alliance every year on 4 April, the anniversary of the signing of NATO's founding document, the Washington Treaty, in 1949. For 74 years, the Alliance has remained steadfast in its resolve to protect its citizens, defend every inch of its territory, and safeguard freedom and democracy. READ MORE NATO announces launch of the second cycle of the Young Professionals Programme We are glad to inform you that the second cycle of the NATO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is now open to applications! READ MORE NATO launches call for interns for 2024 The next cycle of the NATO Internship Programme is now open. Would you like to gain experience working in a political and military alliance that protects the freedom and security of one billion people? READ MORE Finland joins NATO Finland has now become a member of the Alliance, after decades of being one of NATO’s closest partners. Their full membership makes NATO stronger, and Finland safer. WATCH VIDEO

NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III 1110 Brussels, Belgium