NATO leaders agreed to strengthen alliance to counter global challenges

Europe, News July 2, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The NATO Summit in Madrid ended as allies and partners agreed to transform and strengthen the Alliance

NATO leaders signed off on June 30 on critical decisions, which included strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense, an invitation to Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, long-term support to Ukraine, and preserving the rules-based international order in an era of strategic competition with China and Russia.

According to the NATO statement, “Allied leaders agreed on a fundamental shift in NATO’s deterrence and defense, with strengthened forward defenses, enhanced battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance, and an increase in the number of high readiness forces to well over 300,000.”

The leaders of NATO agreed to invest more in NATO and increase common funding and agreed on long-term support for Ukraine through a strengthened Comprehensive Assistance Package.

During the summit, NATO leaders endorsed a new Strategic Concept, the blueprint for the Alliance in a more dangerous and competitive world. The statement stated that the new strategic concept “sets out NATO’s approach to Russia and to other threats, including terrorism, cyber and hybrid. For the first time, the Strategic Concept addresses the challenges posed by China.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also noted the “deepening strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing,” and said that “China’s growing assertiveness and its coercive policies have consequences for the security of Allies and our partners.”

According to the NATO secretary general, the decisions that have been taken by the allies in Madrid would ensure that the “Alliance continues to preserve peace, prevent conflict, and protect our people and our values. Europe and North America, standing together in NATO.”

*^{Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government with Partners – NATO Summit Madrid – Spain, 27-30 June 2022. (Image Credit: NATO)}*

NATO partners also agreed on steps to fight climate change, including targets to cut NATO greenhouse gas emissions and move towards Net Zero by 2050. “A new NATO Innovation Fund to help the Alliance sharpen its technological edge was also launched at the Summit,” the statement added.

During the talks, the allies addressed global challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen NATO’s response to threats and challenges from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel. NATO leaders also held meetings with met with Indo-Pacific partners, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea, who participated in the NATO Summit for the first time. In addition, the European Union, Georgia, Sweden, and Finland also took part in the NATO Summit.

At the end of the summit, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg highlighted that “We face the most serious security situation in decades. But we are rising to the challenge with unity and resolve.”