NATO update

 

Secretary General: German leadership in NATO matters for peace in Europe NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin on Friday (10 November 2023). Mr Stoltenberg thanked Defence Minister Pistorius for his leadership in transforming the German Bundeswehr and for Germany’s major part in strengthening NATO’s defences. The Secretary General stressed that Germany’s new Defence Policy guidelines demonstrate its commitment to increased defence spending. “We need a strong Bundeswehr, which is ready to fight at the heart of the Alliance,” he said, welcoming Germany’s clear commitment to invest 2 percent of GDP on defence by next year. “This reflects Germany’s responsibility and Germany’s leadership”, he added. Click here to download the joint press conference by NATO Secretary General and the German Minister of Defence, Mr. Boris Pistorius and here for the Q&A session. Later today, the Secretary General will receive the American Academy of Berlin’s 2023 Henry A. Kissinger Prize for his contribution to transatlantic relations. Footage will be available here. Click here to download all the video files of the Secretary General's visit to Germany.  The webstory is available on the NATO Website as well as the transcript of his remarks.  Where NATO’s fighter pilots are born There’s something that fighter pilots from Belgium, Denmark, Germany and 11 other NATO Allies have in common: their flying careers started in Texas, USA. That’s where the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) programme has been training pilots since the early 80s, when a number of countries decided to found the programme at Sheppard Air Force Base. With 12-hour working days and plenty of bookwork to supplement the flying, this course ensures that only the most skilled and most dedicated graduates serve as fighter pilots in their country’s air forces. This video follows Royal Danish Air Force Lieutenant ”Bun” and Belgian Air Force Lieutenant Jade. Having since completed the programme, ‘Bun’ is now training to fly C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, while Jade is preparing to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.  Click here to download the video.  You can also watch the video on YouTube. Click here to download the b-roll footage of the NATO fighter pilots' training in Texas. And here for the photos. Secretary General welcomes Germany’s NATO contributions, support to Ukraine In a visit to Berlin on Thursday (9 November 2023), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for Germany’s major contributions to NATO and strong support for Ukraine. Mr Stoltenberg welcomed that Germany has stepped up at a critical moment for European security and allocated troops for the defence of Europe, including a NATO brigade stationed in Lithuania and troops for the NATO battlegroup in Slovakia. The Secretary General praised Germany’s commitment to invest 2 percent of GDP in defence by next year, adding that “sustaining this level of investment will be a game-changer for our collective defence.” He also welcomed Germany’s strong leadership in the domain of cyber defence. The two leaders also discussed Russia’s ongoing brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. Mr Stoltenberg thanked Germany for providing critical support including Marder and Leopard tanks, IRIS-T air defences and munitions. He underlined the importance of giving the Ukrainians the weapons they need to stay strong on the battlefield, saying: “These contributions help Ukraine defend its freedom. And they help keep Europe safe". Click here to download the joint statements by NATO Secretary General and the German Chancellor, Mr. Olaf Scholz. Later today, the Secretary General will deliver his remarks at the first NATO Annual Cyber Defence Conference together with the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Footage will be available here. Click here to download all the video files of the Secretary General's visit to Germany.  The webstory is available on the NATO Website as well as transcripts of his remarks.

10 November 2023 Update

Secretary General welcomes Germany’s NATO contributions, support to Ukraine In a visit to Berlin on 9 November 2023, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for Germany’s major contributions to NATO and strong support for Ukraine. READ MORE

NATO Secretary General discusses Sweden’s accession, support to Ukraine with President of Hungary Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed President Katalin Novák of Hungary to NATO Headquarters on 8 November 2023 to discuss Sweden’s accession to the Alliance, support to Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East. READ MORE North Atlantic Council statement on the Allied response to Russia's withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Allies condemn Russia's decision to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and its war of aggression against Ukraine which is contrary to the Treaty's objectives. READ MORE Energy security at forefront of NATO-Ukraine Council meeting The NATO-Ukraine Council met at NATO Headquarters on 8 November 2023 to discuss energy security. READ MORE NATO Allies address the situation in the Middle East with the King of Jordan Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to NATO Headquarters on 6 November 2023 for talks on the Alliance’s partnership with Amman and regional security challenges. READ MORE Secretary General: Through NATO, we can build a secure cyberspace for all At the first annual NATO Cyber Defence Conference, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the importance of bringing together senior Allied political, military and technical decision-makers: “NATO is perfectly positioned to share information, to spread innovation, and to coordinate our collective defence in cyberspace.” READ MORE NATO Secretary General convenes second meeting of Senior National Resilience Officials Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed senior Allied officials responsible for resilience to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 7 November 2023. READ MORE NATO Deputy Secretary General highlights cooperation and resilience at the Partnership Training and Education Centres Marketplace The Partnership Training and Education Centres (PTEC) Marketplace took place at NATO Headquarters on 7 and 8 November 2023.

NATO Review offers expert opinion, analysis and debate on security issues. What is published in this magazine does not necessarily represent the official position or policy of member governments, or of NATO Turning standard ammunition into sharable ammunition Lt Gen L. Landrum, Col Joel P. Gleason, Col G. Corrado NATO’s multinational battlegroups need help transitioning verified technical interchangeability into national policies that allow them to operate, train, and maintain readiness from a common ammunition stockpile that is legally permitted and safe to use. In February and March of this year, the NATO Standardization Office coordinated with a team from the US Army War College (USAWC) to conduct a ground-level survey within three of NATO’s eight multinational battlegroups. The team’s most salient observation was this: battle group key leaders believe that national policies prevent ammunition exchange within their multinational formation. This perception may hinder a multinational unit’s wartime interoperability, and certainly impedes operational efficiency in peacetime. READ/LISTEN MORE

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