ΝΑΤΟ update

 

NATO Allies participate in tank competition in Latvia Iron Spear 2025 recently took place at the Ādaži Training Ground in Latvia, bringing together NATO armoured crews from across the alliance to compete in a series of live-fire and tactical challenges. The event tested tank crews on gunnery accuracy, crew coordination, and combat readiness under simulated operational conditions. NATO Allies Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom participated, with crews operating main battle tanks such as the Leopard 2 and Challenger 2. The competition served both as a training opportunity and a demonstration of NATO’s interoperability and collective defence capabilities on its eastern flank. Iron Spear took place from 28 April – 3 May 2025. Click here to download the B-roll. Footage includes various shots of the different tanks and crews in the field as they manoeuvre and fire at the Ādaži Training Ground in Latvia, and soundbites by Lieutenant Colonel Darryn Gray, Commander of the NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia. NATO Secretary General visits Norway On Thursday 22 May, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, visited Norway.  NATO Secretary General met the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Espen Barth Eide, and the Minister of Defence, Mr Tore Sandvik. He also joined a number of military field activities during his visit. Click here to download the joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Norway and here for B-roll of NATO Secretary General visiting military field activities. 23 May 2025 Update NATO Secretary General visits Norway’s High North in preparation for the Summit in The Hague NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited northern Norway on 22 May 2025, where he met Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and Minister of Defence Tore Sandvik. The Secretary General also observed a demonstration of NATO’s multidomain capabilities in the High North. Read more NATO Secretary General commends Czechia’s commitment to a stronger, fairer and more lethal Alliance NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Czech President Petr Pavel to NATO Headquarters on 21 May 2025 to discuss preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague. Read more NATO Secretary General meets with Dutch Prime Minister On 21 May 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, to NATO Headquarters. The leaders held productive discussions on boosting defence spending, support for Ukraine and the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague. Read more Nordic air forces strengthen interoperability over Baltic Sea Air forces from Denmark, Finland and Sweden conducted a coordinated operation over the Baltic Sea on 21 May 2025, enhancing NATO's collective defence posture and reinforcing regional security through integrated training. (Story courtesy Allied Air Command) Read more Secretary General calls for stronger NATO-EU cooperation to strengthen deterrence and defence On 20 May 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attended the Foreign Affairs Council with EU Defence Ministers. He highlighted the importance of closer NATO-EU relations, in light of the threats from Russia, China’s military build-up, and terrorism. Read more France takes command of NATO Mission Iraq On 22 May 2025, Major General Christophe Hintzy from France assumed command of NATO Mission Iraq, at a change of command ceremony in Baghdad. He succeeds Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs from the Netherlands, who had been in post since May 2024. Read more Allies review progress with NATO cyber defence pledge, identify next steps to increase cyber resilience On 20-21 May 2025, NATO Allies and several partner countries met in Poland for NATO’s annual Cyber Defence Pledge Conference. The conference provides a unique platform to share experiences and exchange best practices in implementing the pledge. Read more THIS WEEK IN PICTURES NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III 1110 Brussels, Belgium 23 May 2025 NATO Secretary General attends the 2025 Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Dayton On 25 and 26 May 2025, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, will take part in the 2025 Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NPA) in Dayton, United States. Mr Rutte will address the Plenary Session and participate in a Q&A moderated by the NPA President, Mr Marcos Perestrello. He will also have meetings with Dr Denis Bećirović, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Elmedin Konaković, and with a US Congressional Delegation led by Representative Michael Turner. Media advisory 26 May, 15:55 (CEST) Address by the Secretary General to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, followed by moderated conversation Media coverage The Secretary General’s remarks at the NPA will be streamed live on the NATO website.   Transcripts of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as photographs, will be available on the NATO website. For more information: For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office