During his maiden trip as NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte visited Kyiv on Thursday (03 October 2024). The Secretary General met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
NATO is a political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America. Its members are committed to protecting each other from any threat.
NATO condemns Russia's war against Ukraine in the strongest terms. The Alliance remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine, helping to uphold its fundamental right to self-defence.
In 2024, NATO is celebrating its 75th anniversary. For more than seven decades, the Alliance has ensured the security of its members and adapted to address new challenges.
Read/listen to personal perspectives, expert opinion, analysis and debate on a broad range of security issues. The views expressed by authors are their own.
Reflections on a decisive decade as NATO Secretary General
27 Sep. 2024As I approach the end of my tenure as NATO Secretary General, I look back at some of the important lessons of the past 10 years that I believe must continue to guide the Alliance in the future.
Sexual harassment and sexual violence in the military
13 Sep. 2024Modern, well-functioning, agile and responsive militaries rely on personnel with an eclectic range of skills and attributes. This, by definition, requires a diverse workforce. Militaries are historically predominantly male, but across NATO, Allied forces are looking to recruit and retain more women in their ranks. Women still only occupy an average of 9 to 16% of roles across NATO Allies, and shocking reporting in mainstream media of military rape cultures and rife sexual violence may detrimentally impact the future recruitment and retention of women in militaries.
Reinforcing resilience: NATO’s role in enhanced security for critical undersea infrastructure’ by Eoin McNamara
28 Aug. 2024Undersea infrastructure is vital in a global economy powered by data. 99% of the world’s data is transmitted through a global network of subsea cables... As great power tensions escalate, undersea infrastructure serving the Euro-Atlantic community has emerged as an attractive target for hybrid interference, meaning that the security of this infrastructure should be a NATO priority.
NATO in the democratic arena
26 Jun. 2024The fight for democracy in the 21st century is an existential one and NATO is an indispensable party to the conflict.