NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked US President Donald Trump for his strong leadership and commitment to the Alliance in a meeting at the White House on Thursday (14 November 2019). Mr. Stoltenberg highlighted rising defence investment across European Allies and Canada, amounting to more than $100 billion extra in recent years, adding that Allies are determined to keep up the momentum.
Women, Peace and Security
31 Oct. 2019A look at some of the achievements and challenges of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325
Exclusive interview with UNSCR 1325 as she turns 19
31 Oct. 2019A look at some of the achievements and challenges of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 – LtCol Rachel Grimes, lead officer on Women Peace and Security at the UK Ministry of Defence
European security without the INF Treaty
30 Sep. 2019Jacek Durkalec of the Center for Global Security Research assesses the implications for European security of the demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
More ‘likes’ for defence and security issues: engaging young audiences
14 Aug. 2019Roger Hilton, a former Secretary General of the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association, looks at different ways for NATO and Allies to boost engagement with media savvy and hyperconnected millennials and Generation Z.
Strengthening EU-NATO relations
16 Jul. 2019Alex Papaioannou of NATO’s International Staff gives his perspective on the evolution of EU-NATO relations and emphasises that, since 2014, there has been a radical shift in how the institutions work together.
The changing shape of Arctic security
28 Jun. 2019For more than twenty years the Far North was widely viewed as being disconnected from ‘traditional’ hard strategic concerns. But recently the question of whether the Arctic might be viewed as an arena for military competition has reappeared. Marc Lanteigne, Associate Professor of Political Science at The Arctic University of Norway, explains.
A fascinating tale about multilateral politics
14 Jun. 2019Michael Rühle reviews the book “Enduring Alliance: A History of NATO and the Postwar Global Order” by Timothy Andrews Sayle, an assistant professor of history at the University of Toronto.
Working with partners to counter terrorism
16 May. 2019Juliette Bird, head of NATO's Counter Terrorism section for the past eight years, emphasises that links to partners and international organisations are essential for a coherent response to terrorism.
Russian intelligence operations shifting tactics not goals
26 Apr. 2019Russia’s intelligence services remain at the heart of Moscow’s wider political war against the West, intended to disrupt, distract, and demoralise. Mark Galeotti, a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, gives his expert view.
NATO at 70: an opportunity to recalibrate
05 Apr. 2019At 70, NATO is facing a more diverse spectrum of threats than ever before. How can the Alliance help its member states build resilience and develop effective responses to challenges from within and without their borders? Jamie Shea shares his views.
Driving diversity at NATO
07 Mar. 2019Diversity does not happen on its own. It is not just a question of having the right regulations, policy frameworks and directives in place. Champions are needed, who create a spirit of inclusion, at all levels of an organisation. NATO is on the right path, but still has work to do. Tara Nordick and Patrice Billaud-Durand of NATO’s Executive Management Division share their views.
Resilience: the first line of defence
27 Feb. 2019The current unpredictable security environment has led to a renewed focus on civil preparedness. Two experts from NATO’s Defence Policy and Planning Division explain why.
NATO’s role in cyberspace
12 Feb. 2019Cyber threats to Alliance security are becoming more frequent, complex, destructive and coercive. Laura Brent of NATO’s Emerging Security Challenges Division looks at the challenges facing the Alliance and at the steps that have been taken in cyber defence over the past decade. The views expressed are her own.
NATO – ready for anything?
24 Jan. 2019Readiness has been at the top of NATO’s agenda since 2014. Jonathan Hill, a former staff member of NATO’s Operations Division, looks back through history to show that many of the current issues surrounding readiness, successful deterrence and reassurance are not new. The views expressed are his own.
The end of the ''Great Illusion'': Norman Angell and the founding of NATO
14 Jan. 2019In the first half of the 20th century, excessive nationalism, radical ideologies and misguided isolationism plunged Europe into two major wars that set half the world on fire. Today, as these trends are again on the rise, it is instructive to recall how an idealistic pacifist came to the conclusion that a collective defence pact between like-minded countries was the only way to keep the peace. Michael Rühle of NATO’s International Staff tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Angell. The views expressed are his own.
VOSTOK 2018: Ten years of Russian strategic exercises and warfare preparation
20 Dec. 2018To better understand the implications for NATO Allies of all of Russia’s strategic exercises, including large-scale snap exercises, they need to be seen in their full context, explains Dave Johnson of NATO’s International Staff. The views expressed are his own.
Corruption and conflict: hand in glove
06 Dec. 2018Corruption contributes to civil unrest and feeds the rise of violent extremists. It is used as a foreign policy tool by some states to undermine institutions in others. It can also contribute to the failings of international interventions in conflict situations. As Karolina MacLachlan of Transparency International explains, this is why corruption matters to NATO.
Cooperating to counter hybrid threats
23 Nov. 2018Countering hybrid threats is a priority for EU-NATO cooperation and the new European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki plays a unique role. Axel Hagelstam of the Finnish Mission to NATO and Kirsti Narinen of the Centre explain.
Trident Juncture and the information environment
16 Nov. 2018NATO’s audiences are found in a noisy information environment, filled with competing messages and alternative voices. It is developing a capability to analyse how NATO communications are received and what others are saying. Jay Paxton of Allied Command Transformation explains.
The resilience of Resolution 1325
09 Nov. 2018Clare Hutchinson, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, looks at what has been achieved since UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was adopted 18 years ago.
A credible transatlantic bond: Trident Juncture and NATO capabilities
19 Oct. 2018Trident Juncture 18 is a collective defence (Article 5) exercise, which portrays a threat from a fictional near-peer adversary on the north-eastern flank of the Alliance. It will exercise NATO’s ability to defend and reinforce Allies, including from across the Atlantic. Military historian Erlingur Erlingsson looks at the wider context.
Flexible logistics in a fluid, modern security environment
09 Oct. 2018Military mobility is essential for NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, and is now a key focus of cooperation with the European Union. Peter Williams of NATO’s Defence Policy and Planning Division explains. The views expressed are his own.
NATO-UN relations: looking ahead after 10 years of expanding cooperation
29 Aug. 2018 - 28 Sep. 2018NATO and the United Nations share strong bonds. Both organisations are conceived out of the same ethos of post-World War Two multilateralism and share a deep-seated commitment to common values. Endre Sebok of NATO’s Political Affairs and Security Policy Division explains how dialogue and cooperation are evolving to address common challenges and new realities. The views expressed are his own.
A world without NATO?
29 Aug. 2018Predictions about the imminent demise of NATO have been around for ages. But what would the end of NATO look like? Michael Rühle of NATO’s International Staff shares his views.
Can ISIS regroup? Lessons from interviews with ex-ISIS fighters
09 Aug. 2018Based on extensive interviews conducted as part of her wider research on terrorist organisations, Vera Mironova – a research fellow at the Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School – shares her insights into the different types of ISIS/Daesh fighters, what happened to them and what they might do next.
The principle of collective defence is at the very heart of NATO’s founding treaty. It remains a unique and enduring principle that binds its members together, committing them to protect each other and setting a spirit of solidarity within the Alliance.
NATO constantly reviews and transforms its policies, capabilities and structures to ensure that it can continue to address current and future challenges to the freedom and security of its members. Presently, Allied forces are required to carry out a wide range of missions across several continents; the Alliance needs to ensure that its armed forces remain modern, deployable, and capable of sustained operations.
Many of the challenges NATO faces require cooperation with other stakeholders in the international community. Over more than 25 years, the Alliance has developed a network of partnerships with non-member countries from the Euro-Atlantic area, the Mediterranean and the Gulf region, and other partners across the globe. NATO pursues dialogue and practical cooperation with these nations on a wide range of political and security-related issues. NATO’s partnerships are beneficial to all involved and contribute to improved security for the broader international community.
NATO is an active and leading contributor to peace and security on the international stage. It promotes democratic values and is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. However, if diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis-management operations, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations.