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24 November 2023 Update

Secretary General meets Allied leaders from the Western Balkans, concludes tour of the region NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Allied leaders from the Western Balkans in Skopje on 22 November 2023. Hosted by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski of North Macedonia, the meeting was attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania, President Zoran Milanović of Croatia, and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić of Montenegro. READ MORE

NATO Secretary General in Skopje: the Western Balkans is essential to the security of Europe Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia in Skopje on 21 November 2023, marking the first such address since the country joined NATO. READ MORE Secretary General underlines the importance of NATO’s partnership with Serbia On 21 November 2023, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had discussions in Belgrade with President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia. Mr Stoltenberg and President Vučić addressed the latest security developments in the Western Balkans, NATO’s role in the region, and strengthening Serbia’s partnership with the Alliance. READ MORE Secretary General in Pristina: “NATO will do what is necessary to maintain a safe and secure environment in Kosovo” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Dr Vjosa Osmani of Kosovo in Pristina on 20 November 2023 to discuss the security situation in Kosovo and the wider region. READ MORE NATO Secretary General underscores importance of stability in the Western Balkans at the start of his visit to the region NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg started his four-day visit to the Western Balkans from 19 to 22 November 2023 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating that “NATO has been committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina for many years. Your security matters for the Western Balkans region and it matters for Europe”. READ MORE Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the satellite launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea I strongly condemn the launch of a military satellite by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, using ballistic missile technology in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. This raises tensions and poses a serious risk to regional and international security. READ MORE NATO Deputy Secretary General addresses the Council of Presidents of Business Europe in Belgium NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană gave introductory remarks at the Meeting of the Council of Presidents of Business Europe in Brussels, Belgium on 23 November 2023. The event was organised by the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium. READ MORE IISS Manama Dialogue conference: NATO reaches out to southern neighbourhood From 17 to 19 November 2023, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, and the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Boris Ruge, attended the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. NATO’s key message at this conference was that it wants to find ways to deepen partnerships in its southern neighbourhood.

NATO multinational battlegroup Hungary on the move NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Hungary tested its combat capabilities alongside the Hungarian Defence Forces during Exercise Adaptive Hussars 23. During the exercise, troops from Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Türkiye practised the rapid deployment of mechanised forces across difficult terrain. Hungarian combat engineers erected a pontoon bridge across the Tisza River, allowing Armoured Personnel Carriers and other vehicles to quickly cross and move towards their objectives. These “wet gap crossings” are complicated and labour intensive, yet essential for NATO’s forces to remain mobile, agile and capable of rapidly responding to crises. Adaptive Hussars was the largest military exercise in Hungary for 30 years, with over 5000 troops involved.  Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes a wet gap crossing operation (construction, defence, crossings), footage of Italian paratroopers performing a live fire exercise, and soundbites from battlegroup captains and a commander. NATO Secretary General in Skopje: the Western Balkans is essential to the security of Europe NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia in Skopje on Tuesday (21 November 2023), marking the first such address since the country joined NATO. In his address, Mr Stoltenberg said the Western Balkans is essential to the security of Europe. He thanked North Macedonia for its commitment to the security of the Alliance, including valuable support to NATO’s KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Click here to download the address to the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia by the NATO Secretary General as well as his press conference with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia and b-rolls of his bilateral meetings in Skopje. The webstory is available on the NATO website, as well as the transcripts and photos of NATO Secretary General's visit to North Macedonia. NATO Secretary General underlines the importance of NATO’s partnership with Serbia On Tuesday (21 November 2023), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had discussions in Belgrade with President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia. Mr Stoltenberg and President Vučić addressed the latest security developments in the Western Balkans, NATO’s role in the region, and strengthening Serbia’s partnership with the Alliance. The Secretary General called on Belgrade and Pristina to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated dialogue, as this is the only path to a lasting peace and stability.  Mr Stoltenberg stressed the importance of NATO and Serbia’s partnership: “Serbia is an important regional actor and a long-standing partner of NATO. A good example of our cooperation is the joint work we have done over the past 10 years through NATO’s Science for Peace Programme, in different fields, including energy and environmental security, advanced technologies, and cyber-defence.” Click here to download the joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General and the President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia, the Q&A session with journalists, as well as the b-roll of the bilateral meeting between the NATO Secretary General and the President of Serbia. The webstory is available on the NATO Website, as well as the transcripts and photos of NATO Secretary General's visit to Serbia. Secretary General in Pristina: “NATO will do what is necessary to maintain a safe and secure environment in Kosovo” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Dr Vjosa Osmani of Kosovo in Pristina on Monday (20 November 2023) to discuss the security situation in Kosovo and the wider region. Mr Stoltenberg condemned both the outbreak of violence in northern Kosovo in September and the attacks on KFOR troops in May which left 93 injured, describing the attacks as “unacceptable”.  The Secretary General said: “We will do what is necessary to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo.” Click here to download the joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General and Dr Vjosa Osmani of Kosovo, as well as the Q&A session.   The webstory is available on the NATO Website, as well as the transcripts and photos of NATO Secretary General's visit to the Western Balkans. NATO Secretary General underscores importance of stability in the Western Balkans at the start of his visit to the region NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg started his four-day visit to the Western Balkans this week (19 - 22 November 2023) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating that “NATO has been committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina for many years. Your security matters for the Western Balkans region and it matters for Europe”.  In his remarks with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, the Secretary General said that “Allies strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Click here to download the joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General and the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as the joint press point with the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The webstory is available on the NATO website, as well as the transcripts and photos of NATO Secretary General's visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Press Release 22 November 2023 Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the satellite launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea I strongly condemn the launch of a military satellite by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, using ballistic missile technology in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. This raises tensions and poses a serious risk to regional and international security. North Korea must stop its reckless behaviour, abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, and engage in diplomacy in good-faith. NATO stands in solidarity with our partners in the region: The Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

22 November 2023

Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the satellite launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea I strongly condemn the launch of a military satellite by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, using ballistic missile technology in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. This raises tensions and poses a serious risk to regional and international security. North Korea must stop its reckless behaviour, abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, and engage in diplomacy in good-faith. NATO stands in solidarity with our partners in the region: The Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

NATO’s China and Indo-Pacific conundrum Prof. Luis Simón The war in Ukraine has underscored the growing geopolitical interdependence between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. For one, China has helped Russia cushion Western economic and political pressure. Indeed, Beijing’s image in Europe (which has been on a downward trajectory for years) has tanked as the perception of tacit support for Moscow’s assault on the Euro-Atlantic security order and global norms has spread. Conversely, diplomatic, economic and military support from Indo-Pacific partners like Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea has helped to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and uphold global norms. More broadly, the war has triggered an intense debate in the United States about how to reconcile the need to assist Ukraine while maintaining focus on the threat that China poses in the Indo-Pacific. This debate continues to raise questions about the implications of U.S. prioritisation for transatlantic relations and European security. READ/LISTEN MORE