NATO update

 

NATO’s presence in Hungary NATO’s multinational forces in Hungary stand ready to deter aggression and defend Allied territory.  Established in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Hungarian Army leads a NATO multinational battlegroup that includes troops from Croatia and Italy. A Turkish mechanised infantry contingent also stands in reserve, ready to reinforce the battlegroup if called upon.  The forces include battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, heavy mortars, artillery and air defence as part of its combat power. Hungary is also further protected by the new NATO activity ‘Eastern Sentry’, which boosts NATO’s vigilance along the entire eastern flank with more air, land and sea-based military assets. The activity also includes innovative technologies to tackle new challenges, like the ones we see from drones.  Taken together, this presents a credible deterrent against aggression, and a sign of assurance that NATO Allies stand by Hungary and are ready to protect the Alliance in the east. Click here to download the video. You can also watch the video on YouTube. Please register on the NATO website to download the files and subscribe to the NATO Multimedia newsletter to keep receiving our e-mails. NATO strengthens maritime security in the Baltic Sea during exercise Freezing Winds As security challenges in the Baltic region continue to evolve, NATO and Allies are intensifying efforts to protect vital sea routes and critical infrastructure. Maintaining freedom of navigation and safeguarding key maritime areas remain essential for the security of Allied nations. Exercise Freezing Winds 2025, hosted by Finland, brought together ships from Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) and other Allied units to train side by side in the Baltic Sea’s harsh winter conditions. Over several days, naval forces, divers, and mine counter-measure teams practised joint operations to ensure readiness against diverse threats — from detecting and neutralising underwater threats to responding to disruptions affecting vital sea lines of communication. The exercise took place from 24 November to 4 December 2025. This exercise complements NATO’s Baltic Sentry enhanced vigilance activity, launched in January 2025 to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the region. Since its inception, Baltic Sentry has helped deter hostile activity, and there has been no maligned damage to critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This proactive effort underscores NATO’s unwavering commitment to security and resilience in an increasingly complex environment. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes NATO warships at the port of Turku, Finland, with Allied sailors conducting naval operations aboard the French minehunter FS Sagittaire and the Latvian LVNS Virsaitis, the flagship of SNMCMG1. It also features joint naval operations on the German minehunter FGS Dillingen, where Portuguese divers worked alongside German sailors. The package includes interviews with the commander of SNMCMG1, as well as commanding officers from the Danish frigate HDMS Niels Juel, French minehunter FS Sagittaire, German minehunter FGS Dillingen, and an officer from the Portuguese Navy’s mine clearance team. Click here to view the photos from exercise Freezing Winds. Please register on the NATO website to download the files and subscribe to the NATO Multimedia newsletter to keep receiving our e-mails. 5 December 2025 NATO Deputy Secretary General to visit United States of America On 8 – 10 December, 2025, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms Radmila Shekerinska, will be in Boston and in Washington DC, United States. On Monday, 8 December, the Deputy Secretary General will give a speech and engage in a moderated discussion at the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center, in Boston. On Tuesday, 9 December, Ms Shekerinska will travel to Washington DC to attend the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Transatlantic Forum, where she will give a speech followed by a moderated discussion. The next day, she will participate in a moderate discussion at the Aspen Security Forum.   For more information: For further details on the events, please visit the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Transatlantic Forum, the Aspen Security Forum, and the Harvard Belfer Center websites. For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office   8 December 2025 NATO Secretary General hosts discussions with the President of Ukraine, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission On Monday, 8 December 2025, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, will receive the President of Ukraine, Mr Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of the European Council, Mr António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, at his official residence, in Brussels. There will be no media opportunity. Photographs will be available on the NATO website after the event.   For more information: For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office 5 December 2025 Update NATO Foreign Ministers reaffirm commitment to defence investment and Ukraine support NATO Foreign Ministers concluded their meeting in Brussels on 3 December 2025, marking the midpoint between this year’s Summit in The Hague and the Ankara Summit in 2026. Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the ongoing threat posed by Russia, its war against Ukraine and its reckless actions against NATO, including airspace violations and cyberattacks. Read more Allies are ready, willing, and able to tackle security challenges today and into the future – NATO Secretary General On 2 December 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte previewed the forthcoming meeting of Allied Foreign Ministers at a press conference at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Read more NATO Deputy Secretary General attends OSCE Ministerial Council On 4 December 2025, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska participated in the 32nd Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) held in Vienna, Austria, under the Finnish Chairpersonship in Office. Read more Securing the seas: how NATO will deliver its next-generation Maritime Strategy NATO recently released an update to the Alliance maritime strategy that provides a framework for Allied maritime security across the Euro-Atlantic region. The strategy will help steer the transformation efforts of the Alliance with a renewed emphasis on collective defence. (Story courtesy of Allied Maritime Command) Read more German Eurofighters deploy to Poland, strengthening NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence German Air Force Eurofighters deploy to Malbork, Poland, as part of NATO’s Air Policing mission, ensuring the continued security of NATO airspace. (Story courtesy of Allied Air Command) Read more Italian Army tests the elevation of the Forward Land Force to brigade level in Bulgaria Three interconnected exercises, eight multinational Battlegroups and a digitalized Brigade in command. Italian Army with the “Pinerolo” Brigade confirms its readiness to operate even in high-intensity scenarios. (Story courtesy of Allied Joint Force Command Naples) Read more NATO's presence in Hungary NATO’s multinational forces in Hungary stand ready to deter aggression and defend Allied territory. Watch Video THIS WEEK IN PICTURES NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III 1110 Brussels, Belgium