NATO hosts conference of Allied Contact Point Embassies in partner countries
NATO hosted its biennial conference of Allied Contact Point Embassies in partner countries on 26 and 27 January 2023. The event brought together 38 delegations representing NATO in 33 partner nations. The newly-appointed representatives attended briefings and panel discussions with NATO leadership focusing on NATO partnerships, NATO operations, NATO’s Communications Strategy and public diplomacy.
During his keynote speech, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the interconnected nature of today’s security challenges. He thanked the ambassadors present for their efforts and emphasised the importance of like-minded countries standing together in an age of global and dangerous challenges in order to protect shared values and to preserve peace. “In today’s interconnected world, the security of allies and partners is closely linked”, he said.
Speaking on NATO’s strategic communications, Ambassador Baiba Braže, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, said that “Contact Point Embassies constitute a truly global network. As we face the biggest security challenge in a generation, this cooperative network is important more than ever both for allies and partners.”
The embassies serve as a contact point and provide information about the role and policies of the Alliance. They contribute to NATO’s outreach efforts and enable NATO to engage with local audiences and increase the impact of its work. Currently, NATO has a network of 44 Contact Point Embassies in 38 partner countries.