NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined the importance of strengthening transatlantic relations at an Inter-Parliamentary Conference, hosted by the Portuguese Parliament, on Wednesday (3 March 2021).
Cognitive Biotechnology
26 Feb. 2021Advances in cognitive biotechnologies are turning science fiction into reality.
Cognitive Biotechnology: opportunities and considerations for the NATO Alliance
26 Feb. 2021Advances in biophysical, biochemical and behavioral technologies are beginning to turn science fiction into reality. These developments offer exciting possibilities, while also raising issues with regard to ethics and responsible use.
Energy security in the era of hybrid warfare
13 Jan. 2021Energy security has been a key strategic factor in military thinking since the start of the 20th century. Recent events show that it has become a major and growing challenge for the Alliance in an era increasingly dominated by hybrid warfare.
Disinformation in the Western Balkans
21 Dec. 2020The Western Balkans region is very vulnerable to foreign disinformation, which has intensified in recent years. Why is this? What can be done to mitigate it?
Countering drones: looking for the silver bullet
16 Dec. 2020Unmanned Aircraft Systems pose an ever-increasing, multifaceted threat to civilian and military infrastructure, assets and people. What are the Allies doing to address this challenge?
Working with NATO: the experience of Johns Hopkins University
30 Sep. 2020Ahead of NATO’s first ever Youth Summit on 9 November 2020, we look at how student engineers and scientists at Johns Hopkins University are contributing to NATO’s quest for innovation, a top priority for the Alliance.
NATO and the 5G challenge
30 Sep. 2020The 5G controversy came to a head in early 2019. Many Allies became concerned about the security of future intra-Alliance commercial and military communications, primarily – but not only – because of risks posed by non-Allied suppliers. After months of discussion and debate, NATO leaders meeting in London in December 2019 stressed the importance of “the security of communications, including 5G” and recognised “the need to rely on secure and resilient systems”.
Building a resilient innovation pipeline for the Alliance
01 Sep. 2020The head of NATO’s Innovation Unit looks at how the Allies need to leverage comparative advantage, creativity and capital to win the race to adopt emerging disruptive technologies.
An independent and sovereign Ukraine is key to Euro-Atlantic security
08 Jul. 2020Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine have seriously undermined Euro-Atlantic security. Ukraine has engaged constructively towards a settlement. But the key for the normalisation of relations between NATO, Russia and Ukraine remains Russia’s recognition of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Sanctions relief in the absence of significant moves would undermine the West’s credibility and risk further destabilisation.
Book review – “Future NATO: Adapting to New Realities”
30 Jun. 2020Adaptation, the ability to adjust to new political and military challenges, is what defines NATO. It is the overarching theme of a timely publication from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), edited by John Andreas Olsen, Norway’s Defence Attaché in the United Kingdom. Fifteen authors – diplomats, military officers and think tankers – look at NATO’s agenda from various angles. In ten chapters that range from threats to NATO’s East and South, the maritime dimension, technological challenges and NATO’s partnership approach, they examine current policies and offer a glimpse into the future.
Exercise Defender-Europe 20: enablement and resilience in action
16 Jun. 2020Intro: This US-led multinational exercise is the biggest test of NATO Allies’ ability to support large-scale movement of forces across the Atlantic and mainland Europe in recent years. Diverse civilian and military actors have worked closely together to enable the unimpeded deployment of forces by air, sea, road and rail. Lessons learned will further strengthen Allied readiness and resilience in a challenging security environment.
Nuclear deterrence today
08 Jun. 2020Why should NATO Allies still care about nuclear deterrence? In the age of increasingly capable conventional munitions, cyber warfare and autonomous robots, are nuclear weapons not just a relic of the Cold War that have now ceased to be relevant? Why are these weapons still deployed on the territory of a peaceful Europe?
Coronavirus, invisible threats and preparing for resilience
05 May. 2020The corona virus pandemic is the security scenario we were least prepared for. While nation states are responsible for security, they depend highly upon civilian resources and resilient populations. This is a test for civil-military cooperation and requires a comprehensive approach.
Game of drones? How new technologies affect deterrence, defence and security
05 May. 2020Exponential technological progress, especially in the digital domain, is affecting all realms of life. Emerging mainly from the commercial sector, it has led to a democratisation of technologies that could also be weaponised. Technological developments are also generating new dilemmas about their use by the military.
U.S. European Command remains ready and responsive during the pandemic
08 Apr. 2020Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the USEUCOM quickly reduced the scope and size of U.S.-led multinational exercise Defender-Europe 20 to reduce risk on participating forces and local populations. It is one example of how Allies and partners are working together to adapt to this crisis, while maintaining readiness.
Space: NATO’s latest frontier
18 Mar. 2020Why now? Why does space matter for the Alliance? What role could and should NATO play with regard to space?
NATO crisis management exercises: preparing for the unknown
07 Feb. 2020What is the role of crisis management exercises? How have they evolved within NATO? Is the current international security environment influencing how these exercises are planned and conducted?
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.