NATO update

 

NATO troops gather in Gotland for exercise BALTOPS 2024 NATO’s newest member Sweden has been hosting US Marines and Polish soldiers for exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2024. The mainly maritime-focused exercise takes place every year in the Baltic region. This part of the exercise took place on land on the Swedish archipelago of Gotland. Overall, more than 20 NATO Allies, including 50 ships and dozens of aircraft, participated in BALTOPS. This year was particularly notable as it marked Sweden’s first participation as a full NATO member. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of Swedish and Polish soldiers and US Marines exercising with Swedish combat vehicles (CV90s). The soundbite is from Colonel Dan Rasmussen, Commander of the Swedish Gotland Regiment. NATO Secretary General praises Canada’s NATO contributions in visit to Ottawa NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Ottawa on Wednesday (19 June 2024) to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and discuss final preparations for the Washington Summit in July. The Secretary General delivered a speech at an event hosted by the NATO Association of Canada and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association. Click here to download the speech by the NATO Secretary General followed by Q&A.  You can also click here for the web story. NATO Allies conduct drills in biannual Integrated Air and Missile Defence exercise Ramstein Legacy In the multinational live exercise Ramstein Legacy 2024, personnel from 20 NATO countries participated in biannual Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) drills across nine locations in Bulgaria and Romania. The exercise concluded with a live-firing event by Surface Based Air and Missile Defence units. Ramstein Legacy serves as NATO’s capstone IAMD exercise, allowing member countries to test command and control, airborne early warning, and air defence system weapon firing. Notably, Finnish and UK fighter jets joined Allied training activities, marking Finland’s first foreign deployment for NATO since joining the Alliance in April 2023. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes Finnish and UK fighter jets launching to fly sorties from Mihail Kogălniceanu Airbase in Romania. It also includes French, German, Polish and Romanian troops demonstrating various weapons systems at Capu Midia Training Range, including the PATRIOT surface-to-air missile system. NATO Secretary General meets with Secretary Blinken to prepare NATO’s Washington Summit NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington D.C. on Tuesday (18 June 2024), as part of his visit to the United States and Canada, in preparation for the Washington Summit in July. Click here to download the joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. You can also click here for the web story. All the video content of the NATO Secretary General's visit to the United States will be available from this link. NATO Secretary General in Washington: NATO makes America stronger NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington D.C. on Monday (17 June 2024), announcing new defence spending figures and outlining priorities for the upcoming NATO Summit. Click here to download the NATO Secretary General warm words with the President of the United States. Click here to download NATO Secretary General speech at the Wilson Center Auditorium in Washington D.C. You can also click here for the web story. All the video content of the NATO Secretary General's visit to the United States will be available from this link. 21 June 2024 Update Secretary General in Washington: NATO makes America stronger Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington D.C. on 17 June 2024, announcing new defence spending figures and outlining priorities for the upcoming NATO Summit. READ MORE Secretary General concludes visit to United States and Canada, preparing for NATO’s Washington Summit On 21 June 2024, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrapped up his trip to the United States and Canada, in preparation for the upcoming Summit in Washington D.C. in July. READ MORE Secretary General meets with Secretary Blinken to prepare NATO’s Washington Summit NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington D.C. on 18 June 2024, as part of his visit to the United States and Canada, in preparation for the Washington Summit in July. READ MORE Secretary General praises Canada’s NATO contributions in visit to Ottawa Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Ottawa on 19 June 2024 to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and discuss final preparations for the Washington Summit in July. READ MORE Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2014-2024) NATO collects defence expenditure data from Allies and publishes it on a regular basis. Each Ally’s Ministry of Defence reports current and estimated future defence expenditure according to an agreed definition.  READ MORE NATO Innovation Fund makes first investments in future deep technologies On 18 June 2024, the NATO Innovation Fund, the world’s first multi-sovereign venture capital fund, announced its first investments in four companies– ARX Robotics, Fractile AI, iCOMAT and Space Forge – proposing innovative solutions in novel materials and manufacturing, AI and robotics. The Fund is supporting four venture capital funds – Alpine Space Ventures, OTB Ventures, Join Capital and Vsquared Ventures – with expertise in deep technologies such as space tech, to quantum cryptography and AI. (Story courtesy NATO Innovation Fund) READ MORE Chair of NATO Military Committee delivers keynote speech to first Senior Executive Seminar at NATO Defense College in Rome On 20 June 2024, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, attended the first Senior Executive Seminar at the NATO Defense College in Rome, where he delivered a keynote speech on “NATO at 75 and the Changing Security Landscape.” The seminar focused on pressing military and security challenges directly influencing political decision-making in NATO. READ MORE NATO and Azerbaijan strengthen cooperation on defence education Representatives of the NATO Defence and Security Cooperation Directorate met recently with officials from Azerbaijan’s National Defence University in Baku to take stock of the reform efforts undertaken by the country’s military education institutions within the framework of NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme. READ MORE What is NATO? All you need to know What is NATO? Why was it formed and why does it still exist? Who pays for it and how do nations become new Allies? WATCH VIDEO THIS WEEK IN PICTURES NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III 1110 Brussels, Belgium