NATO AWACS deploys to Lithuania
NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft have deployed to Lithuania to monitor the skies over eastern Europe.
The first of two E-3A AWACS planes arrived at Šiauliai Air Base on 28 September 2023, with another soon to follow. Often referred to as NATO’s ‘eyes in the sky’, the aircraft are among the few assets owned and operated by NATO itself. Based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, the planes can fly for up to eight and a half hours while monitoring more than 120,000 square kilometres of territory.
NATO has increased its air presence in the eastern part of the Alliance using fighter jets, surveillance planes and tankers. The NATO AWACS mission is scheduled to last several weeks. Around 150 military personnel from Czechia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Türkiye, and the United States, have deployed to Šiauliai in support of the aircraft.
Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of the aircraft at Šiauliai Air Base and in flight, as well as interviews with Danish and German personnel. For more information on AWACS, please see the topic page.
Allied navies work with maritime unmanned systems during sea trials in Portugal
Exercises REPMUS 23 and Dynamic Messenger 23 took place in Tróia and Sesimbra, Portugal in September. They focused on integrating new maritime unmanned systems into NATO operations, and featured the ability of autonomous underwater vehicles to operate effectively together.
REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems) is an annual sea trial that focuses on technology development and interoperability. REPMUS is led by host country Portugal. Fifteen NATO Allies, along with partner Ireland and NATO invitee Sweden, were involved in the exercise.
Exercise Dynamic Messenger 23 focused on integrating maritime unmanned systems into NATO’s military operations. This exercise gathered more than 2,000 civilian and military personnel, giving all involved a chance to familiarise themselves with the cutting edge of unmanned systems in the maritime domain. Fourteen NATO Allies took part, as well as NATO invitee Sweden.
Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of various unmanned systems in the water and in the air.
6 October 2023
Update
NATO reinforcements arrive in Kosovo
The first contingent of two hundred British soldiers arrived in Kosovo on 6 October 2023 to reinforce NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission. The deployment comes after the violent attack on Kosovo Police on 24 September and increased tensions in the region.
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Secretary General appoints independent group as part of NATO reflection on southern neighbourhood
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has appointed a group of independent experts to support a review of NATO’s approach to its southern neighbourhood – particularly the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel regions. Professor Ana Santos Pinto of Portugal was appointed as Chair.
READ MORE
NATO Secretary General stresses enduring support for Ukraine in call with President Biden, transatlantic leaders
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined NATO’s enduring support for Ukraine in a call with transatlantic leaders on 3 October 2023. “As Russia continues its brutal war we are all committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Mr Stoltenberg said. The call was hosted by US President Joe Biden, bringing together G7 leaders with NATO and European Union leadership, as well as Poland and Romania as co-chairs of the Bucharest Nine (B9) group.
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NATO-Ukraine Council meets to take forward Vilnius Summit decisions
The NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) met on 4 October 2023 to reaffirm NATO’s long-term support to Ukraine and take forward the decisions from the Vilnius Summit. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, with the participation of Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna.
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NATO receives Knight of Freedom award
On 3 October 2023, during the Warsaw Security Forum, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Bauer, accepted the Knight of Freedom award – one of Poland’s most important foreign policy and human rights award – on behalf of the Alliance.
READ MORE
NATO Allies and partners address Small Arms and Light Weapons control in Jordan
NATO and partner country Jordan co-hosted a conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control in Amman on 3 and 4 October 2023. The event was the first of its kind on SALW organised with partner countries, as part of NATO’s defence and related security capacity building package for Jordan.
READ MORE
What is NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR)?
The Kosovo Force was mandated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 as a peacekeeping mission in the immediate aftermath of NATO’s intervention to end the humanitarian catastrophe that was unfolding in and around Kosovo.
WATCH VIDEO
Press Office
6 October 2023
Media programme - Meeting of Minister of Defence 11-12 October 2023
A meeting of Defence Ministers will take place on 11-12 October 2023 at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.
The event programme is now available on the NATO website.Detailed media programme (PDF)
NATO Deputy Secretary General to participate in the To Be Secure Forum
On Saturday, 07 October 2023, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Mircea Geoană, will deliver a speech online in the 13th To Be Secure (2BS) Forum, hosted by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro.
More information about the event is available here.
Media advisory
14:20 (CEST) Address by the NATO Deputy Secretary General
Media coverageA transcript of the Deputy Secretary General’s remarks will be available on the NATO website.The video file will be available at the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.
For more information:
For general queries: Contact the NATO Press Office
Press Release
6 October 2023
NATO Deputy Secretary General in Denmark to attend the 69th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
On Monday, 09 October 2023, the NATO Deputy Secretary General Mr. Mircea Geoană, will be in Copenhagen to participate in the 69th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly where he will deliver a speech and answer questions from parliamentarians.
More information about the event can be found here. For press arrangements for the session, please contact press@nato-pa.int.
Media advisory
10:05-11:35 (CEST) Address by Deputy Secretary General, followed by Q&A
Media coverageThe event will be streamed live on the NATO website and on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly website.A transcript of the Deputy Secretary General’s remarks will be available on the NATO website after the event.
For more information:
For general queries: Contact the NATO Press Office
