NATO update

 

An emotional homecoming for US soldiers When soldiers deploy, they leave behind their families and loved ones. The separation can weigh heavily on service members, and when the soldier finally returns home, the reunion is full of powerful emotions. This was the scene that greeted soldiers from the US Army’s Third Infantry Division when they came home to Fort Stewart, Georgia. It followed a 10-month deployment to Eastern Europe, where they trained alongside NATO Allies and provided a strong presence in the region. The soldiers were part of a surge of US troops to the region that began after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Yet more troops flowed to Eastern Europe following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and US forces now have a more robust presence in Allied countries along NATO’s eastern flank. Click here to download the video. You can also watch the video on Youtube. Allied Chiefs of Defence meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Today, 15 January 2025, NATO’s highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, met in Chiefs of Defence format at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting focused on further strengthening deterrence and defence of the Alliance, strengthening NATO’s Partnerships around the world as well as supporting Ukraine in its resistance against Russia’s unprovoked aggression. Click here to download the opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer.  The joint press conference on 16 January by the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Admiral Pierre Vandier will be available here.  NATO launches 'Baltic Sentry' to increase critical infrastructure security On Tuesday 14 January 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte co-hosted a Summit of Baltic Sea Allies along with President of Finland Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal. At the meeting in Helsinki, Mr Rutte announced the launch of a new military activity by NATO to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure.  “Baltic Sentry” will enhance NATO’s military presence in the Baltic Sea and improve Allies’ ability to respond to destabilizing acts. Click here to download the joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General, the President of Finland and the Prime Minister of Estonia, as well as official greetings and family portrait. The webstory is available here.

Press Release 15 January 2025

NATO Secretary General meets the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland On Thursday, 16 January 2025, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, will meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ms Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels. There will be no media opportunity. Photographs will be available on the NATO website.   For more information:

NATO Deputy Secretary General to visit Lithuania

From 15 to 17 January 2025, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms Radmila Šekerinska, will be in Lithuania to participate in the Snow Meeting 2025, in Trakai. In the margins of the event, the Deputy Secretary General will meet with the President of Lithuania, Mr Gitanas Nausėda, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kęstutis Budrys, and the Minister of Defence, Ms Dovilė Šakalienė; and with other high-level officials present at the event. During her visit to Lithuania, Ms Šekerinska will also visit the NATO Multinational Battlegroup and the Iron Wolf Brigade in Rukla. There will be no media opportunity.   For more information: For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office