By Dr. Frank C. Danesy – Contributor
On Monday, June 14, the 30 NATO Heads of State and Government met in Brussels to chart the organization’s strategy leading up to 2030 and beyond. During the meeting, the Allies reaffirmed their unity, solidarity, and cohesion and their will to open a new chapter in transatlantic relations. In a joint statement, the leaders underscored that NATO will continue to be the foundation on which the collective defense of the member states rests and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions among the NATO Allies. The allied leaders also agreed that NATO will continue to safeguard peace, security, and stability in the entire Euro-Atlantic region based on shared values, including individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
NATO Threat Assessment
During the summit, the Heads of State and Government discussed numerous threats that the NATO member states are currently facing. In their communiqué, the allied leaders most frequently cited Russia’s aggressive posture and actions as a threat to Euro-Atlantic security. Russia’s continued breach of the values, principles, trust, and commitments outlined in agreed documents that underpin the NATO-Russia relationship has caused considerable strain. Russia has designated the United States and the Czech Republic as “unfriendly countries”, which bears significance in international relations and diplomacy. Kremlin leadership has been building up its military, launching large-scale military exercises without prior notice and has deployed modern dual-capable missiles close to the border of one of the NATO member states. Russia’s frequent violations of NATO allied airspace and its military integration with Belarus – a country known for its authoritarian state leadership and human rights violations – adds to the list of concerns.
For the first time in its history, NATO has now also included China as a topic of its agenda. The NATO partners expressed concerns over China’s stated ambitions and assertive behavior, which present challenges to the rules-based international order and the Alliance’s security. China has been rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal. Chinese leadership has been opaque about the modernization of its military and its publicly declared military-civil fusion strategy. China has been cooperating militarily with Russia and participated in Russian exercises in the Euro-Atlantic area. During the meeting, the NATO member states, nevertheless, agreed to maintain a constructive dialogue with China wherever possible.
Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations also poses a threat for all Alliance members. Both state and non-state actors challenge the rules-based international order and aim to undermine democracy. The NATO member states are increasingly faced with cyber, hybrid, and other asymmetric threats as well as a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Disinformation campaigns, the malicious use of increasingly sophisticated disruptive technologies, rapid advances in the space domain, and the erosion of the arms control architecture threaten NATO security. NATO Heads of State and Government also cited climate change as a threat multiplier impacting Alliance security. Finally, instabilities beyond NATO borders contribute to irregular migration and human trafficking, which are also points of concern.
Commitments and Countermeasures
In their communiqué, the Heads of State and Government reaffirmed that they see NATO’s most significant responsibility in protecting and defending NATO territories and populations against any attack and in warding off all threats and challenges that affect Euro-Atlantic security. They committed to enhance the organization’s capability to contribute to, preserve, and shape the rules-based international order. To that end, the Allied leaders agreed to maintain and further strengthen an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities for deterrence and defense, to enhance the Alliance’s resilience, and to “foster technological cooperation among Allies in NATO, promote interoperability and encourage the development and adoption of technological solutions to address the Alliance’s military needs.” The NATO Member States also agreed to improve the balance of sharing the costs and responsibilities of Alliance membership. Citing considerable progress that has been made in this regard since the Wales Summit seven years ago, the Allies are expected to spend 2% or more of GDP on defense. Two-thirds of the NATO member states will reach or exceed that target by 2024.
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Dr. Frank C. Danesy is the founder and CEO of Intelsource, a company specialized in corporate strategy, strategic intelligence, human resource management, and conflict resolution. Before his current activity, he held various high-profile managerial roles in the space sector. He is deeply familiar with space government and industry and with the politics and processes of international organizations. He holds master’s degrees in business administration, intelligence studies, and space science. His doctorate is in leadership and conflict resolution.
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Read the full communiqué that came out of the NATO Brussels conference here.
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Brussels Summit Communiqué
Why has NATO included China on its agenda for the first time, and what concerns have been raised by NATO partners regarding China’s military expansion and cooperation with Russia, despite agreeing to maintain a constructive dialogue with China?
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