Tackling New Threats with New Capabilities

NATO Delivers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

  • 18 May. 2012 - 07 Jul. 2012
  • |
  • Last updated: 18 May. 2012 18:49

The security environment continues to change at a rapid rate and NATO is working to ensure that the Alliance is capable of meeting these emerging security challenges. Cyber attacks, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and other emerging threats such as energy vulnerabilities are all matters of concerns to the security of NATO's almost 900 million citizens.

NATO's Joint Force Training Center (JFTC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland is a state-of-the-art center that supports training for NATO and partner forces to improve joint tactical interoperability. The center provides pre-deployment training to Regional Command Headquarters (RC HQs) and Operational Mission Liaison Teams for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The center is a cornerstone of Allied Command Transformation (ACT), headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia – the only NATO headquarters on US soil. It works in coordination with the Joint Warfare Center (JWC) in Stavanger, Norway.

Cyber security: 
Against the background of rapidly developing technology, NATO is advancing its efforts to confront the wide range of cyber threats targeting the Alliance’s networks on a daily basis.

Missile Defence
In recent decades, there has been a proliferation of ballistic missiles that could be used to carry conventional warheads and even weapons of mass destruction. The Alliance has a responsibility to protect its populations, territory and deployed forces from this threat. For several years, NATO has been pursuing a theater missile defense program for the protection of deployed NATO troops against ballistic missile threats.  At the 2010 Lisbon Summit, NATO leaders decided to expand this program to include the protection of NATO European territory, populations and forces.
 
Smart Defense
In these times of austerity, every penny counts. Smart defense is a concept that encourages Allies to cooperate in developing, acquiring and maintaining military capabilities to meet current security problems in accordance with the new NATO strategic concept. That means pooling and sharing capabilities, setting priorities and coordinating efforts better.