NATO update

18 October 2024 Update NATO Secretary General: Strengthening deterrence “top priority” NATO Defence Ministers wrapped up two days of talks on 18 October 2024 with a commitment to further support Ukraine, strengthen ties with partners in the Asia-Pacific and reinforce the Alliance’s deterrence and defence. READ MORE NATO Defence Ministers Meeting opens with a focus on Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific NATO Defence Ministers agreed on 17 October 2024 to boost cooperation with their Indo-Pacific partners and to step up support for Ukraine. Read more NATO launches five new multinational cooperation initiatives that enhance deterrence and defence On 17 October 2024, NATO launched five initiatives designed to address some of the most critical areas for Allied deterrence and defence. These new multinational High Visibility Projects will involve a total of 26 Allies and will help deliver critical capabilities that will enhance interoperability among NATO forces. Read more NATO steps up Alliance-wide secure data sharing On 17 October 2024, NATO launched a new initiative to foster secure data sharing at speed and scale to further enhance situational awareness and data-driven decision-making. Read more Fostering security-related scientific cooperation with Romania through NATO’s SPS Programme On 16 October 2024, members of NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme team were in Bucharest to announce an upcoming call for proposals on security-related scientific cooperation. The new call invites researchers from Romania, as well as other NATO and partner nations, to submit proposals for collaborative research activities. Read more NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood visits Morocco NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, Javier Colomina, travelled to the Kingdom of Morocco on 15 October 2024 for his second visit to the region in this new capacity. He met with high-level officials to discuss the further development of the NATO-Morocco partnership and other issues of mutual interest. Read more Secretary General welcomes Sweden’s plans to boost defence spending On October 16 2024, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson met at NATO Headquarters in Brussels to discuss the strengthening of NATO’s deterrence and defence and NATO’s increased support to Ukraine. Read more Secretary General praises Latvia for its contributions to NATO On 16 October 2024, at his official residence in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Siliņa to discuss further strengthening NATO’s defences and NATO’s continued support to Ukraine. Read more NATO Secretary General visits SHAPE and new NATO command to support security assistance to Ukraine based in Germany NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Christopher Cavoli, and other senior officials during his first visit to the Alliance’s Supreme Headquarters (SHAPE) in the Belgian city of Mons on 14 October 2024. Read more NATO Chief Scientist launches Grants Programme to foster global security innovation NATO has officially launched its Chief Scientist Grants Programme, dedicated to fostering excellence in science and technology research. In total, 500,000 euros will support research projects focused on advancing science and contributing to global security. Read more NATO Through Time podcast – NATO’s open door (2009) with former President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović The NATO Through Time podcast dives deep into NATO’s history, reflecting on how the past influences the present – and future – of the longest-lasting alliance in history. This episode features former President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who was instrumental in leading her country, alongside Albania, to NATO membership in 2009. Watch Video THIS WEEK IN PICTURES Securing Britain’s and NATO’s digital supply chains Chris Luenen, Haydn Brooks SUBSCRIBE

NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III 1110 Brussels, Belgium

 

NATO Defence Ministers meeting opens with a focus on Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific NATO Defence Ministers agreed on Thursday (17 October) to boost cooperation with their Indo-Pacific partners and to step up support for Ukraine. In the first session of the two-day meeting, NATO Defence Ministers met in an expanded format that for the first time included partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as the European Union. NATO Secretary General also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine. Click here to download the joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Q&As will be available shortly. All video content from the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence is available here. The programme of the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence is available here.   NATO Secretary General: Strengthening deterrence “top priority” NATO Defence Ministers wrapped up two days of talks on Friday (18 October) with a commitment to further support Ukraine, strengthen ties with partners in the Asia-Pacific and reinforce the Alliance’s deterrence and defence. “Strengthening our deterrence and defence is this Alliance’s top priority, because keeping our one billion people safe is NATO’s most sacred duty,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after the meeting. The Secretary General cited greater defence industrial capacity, more secure supply chains, and new technologies as critical to ensuring the Alliance’s security. Mr. Rutte added that NATO was making a fresh push for common munitions standards and more joint procurement to drive down costs and improve ease of use among Allies. NATO operations in the Western Balkans and Iraq were also on the agenda. Click here to download the final press conference by NATO Secretary General. All video content from the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence is available here. The programme of the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence is available here.   NATO exercise Steadfast Noon: Allied aircraft showcase nuclear deterrence Thirteen Allies are participating in NATO’s annual nuclear deterrence exercise Steadfast Noon, a long-planned, routine training activity that is hosted by a different NATO Ally each year. Around 2,000 military personnel from eight airbases and a variety of aircraft types, including nuclear-capable jets, bombers, fighter escorts, refuelling aircraft and planes capable of reconnaissance and electronic warfare from Allied air forces are taking part in the exercise to test NATO’s nuclear deterrent. The 2024 iteration involves training flights mainly over host countries Belgium and the Netherlands as well as over Denmark, the United Kingdom and the North Sea. The exercise runs from 14 to 24 October 2024. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of Dutch and German aircraft taxiing, taking off and landing to exercise NATO’s nuclear deterrence capability. With soundbites from the Chief of NATO Nuclear Operations, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Col. Daniel Bunch. Click here to download pictures of exercise Steadfast Noon. NATO Secretary General visits multinational battlegroup in Estonia During his first trip to the eastern flank of the Alliance since taking office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Estonian President Alar Karis and visited Allied troops at Tapa Army base. Click here to download the address to the troops and press point by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Estonian President Alar Karis at Tapa Army base. The transcript is available on the NATO website. NATO Secretary General visits Estonia From 22 to 23 October 2024, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is visiting Estonia. On Tuesday, 22 October, Mr Rutte met with the President of Estonia, Mr Alar Karis, and the Prime Minister, Mr Kristen Michal. Click here to download the joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The transcript is available on the NATO website. Press Release 18 October 2024 Participation by the NATO Secretary General in the meeting of G7 Defence Ministers From 18 to 19 October 2024, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will participate in the meeting of G7 Defence Ministers in Naples, Italy. There will be no media opportunity. Photographs will be made available later on the NATO website. For more information: For general queries contact the NATO Press Office