NATO update

 

25 September 2026 Update NATO Secretary General joins world leaders in New York during UNGA, commemorates 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited New York during the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) from 23 to 24 September 2026. During his visit,The Secretary General delivered a speech commemorating the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the United States on 9/11 at an event hosted by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. READ MORE NATO Secretary General visits Iowa, meets National Guard On 22 September 2026, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte travelled to the US State of Iowa.  In the afternoon Secretary General Rutte and the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker met the Governor of Iowa Kim Reynolds. Afterwards, Mr Rutte and Mr Whitaker took part in a moderated conversation on NATO, hosted in Des Moines by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Read more UK general takes command of NATO’s Joint Force Command in the US On 24 September 2026, General Nick Perry assumed command of Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk) in the United States. General Perry succeeds US Navy Vice Admiral Doug Perry, who led JFC Norfolk since January 2024. General Perry’s appointment marks the first time a British officer has assumed command of the headquarters. It follows the decision to strengthen European leadership across the Alliance’s command structure. Read more Colombia War College visits NATO HQ On 24 September, the Colombia War College visited NATO Headquarters, welcomed by the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (International Staff) and the Cooperative Security Division (International Military Staff). Read more NATO Chiefs of Defence met in Copenhagen for the Military Committee Conference In Copenhagen, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, the 32 Allied Chiefs of Defence and the two Strategic Commanders discussed the follow-up from the NATO Summit in Ankara, in particular by addressing the further strengthening of the Alliance’s collective deterrence and defence, innovation and technology, and support for Ukraine. Read more NATO Allies put air power to the test in exercise Cobra Warrior Aircrews and specialists from five NATO Allies are training in the United Kingdom during exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2.  Allied air forces are rehearsing how to combine their aircraft and command systems during complex air operations.  (Story courtesy of Joint Force Command Norfolk) Read more NATO hosts International Contact Group on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response On 10-11 September 2026, representatives from the International Military Staff joined the meeting of the International Contact Group on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (ICG-CHMR), hosted at NATO Headquarters in collaboration with the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The meeting brought together Allies, partners, military practitioners, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and academics to exchange experience and strengthen cooperation on mitigating and responding to civilian harm. Read more NATO Allies take readiness to new heights demonstrating unity in action NATO Allies trained together in the Netherlands from 7 to 19 September 2026, combining multinational airlift and airdrop operations to strengthen readiness and interoperability. (Story courtesy of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum) Read more  Calling risk management experts! NATO’s Office of Resources is hiring! The Risk Management Officer will: Provide expert advice to senior military & political leaders Contribute to the development of risk management policies for NATO common funding Learn more & apply by 11 October

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