ENGLISH FRANÇAIS

The Secretary General's Annual Report 2024

scroll down icon

The Secretary General's Annual Report highlights NATO's key milestones and achievements in 2024.

Foreword

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General

"In recent years, NATO has sharply refocused on reinforcing its ability to ensure the collective defence of Allies in a more complex world. My priority as Secretary General is to turbocharge this adaptation so that NATO can become even stronger, more agile and ready to credibly deter and defend against all threats to our security. "
- Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General

Read the foreword
NATO flag and 32 national flags aloft. Brussels, Belgium

NATO in 2024: an agile and innovative alliance

Take a look back at NATO’s key milestones in 2024: the events, exercises and decisions that marked the Alliance’s 75th anniversary year.

View 2024 Timeline
Italian marines with the Italian Navy’s San Marco Brigade trudge through the snow during a live-fire training near Harstad, Norway, as part of exercise Nordic Response 24. Norway, February 2024.
Italian Army paratroopers prepare to move out during exercise Swift Response 24. Sweden, May 2024

Deterrence and defence across all domains

In 2024, NATO focused on significantly strengthening its deterrence and defence posture across the land, air, maritime, cyberspace and space domains, and against any potential adversary, including at short or no notice.

Read more on this topic in the report

Investing in defence: resourced for the future

In 2024, all Allies continued to spend more on defence. NATO Allies in Europe and Canada invested a combined total of USD 486 billion in defence, a 19.4% increase in real terms compared to 2023.

Read more on this topic in the report
NATO Maritime Forces enhance readiness in Baltic Sea during Exercise Freezing Winds. Port of Turku, Baltic Sea, November 2024.
A Turkish naval crewman signals to a Seahawk helicopter during exercise Dynamic Manta. Mediterranean Sea, February 2024.

Cutting-edge: giving Allied forces the capabilities they need

NATO’s ability to deter and defend against potential adversaries relies on Allies having the tools and capabilities they need. The Alliance continues to enhance those capabilities across all domains.

Read more on this topic in the report

Boosting resilience

In a volatile and contested security environment, resilience is the Alliance’s first line of defence. In recent years, NATO and Allies have implemented a series of initiatives to strengthen their resilience against all threats and challenges.

Read more on this topic in the report
A Finnish Navy crew member beside a row of dummy mines during exercise Freezing Winds 24. Turku, Finland, November 2024.
NATO soldiers observe the Northern Lights during exercise Nordic Response 24. Norway, March 2024.

Crisis prevention and management

Crisis prevention and management is one of NATO’s three core tasks. The Alliance is committed to preventing and responding to crises when they have the potential to affect Allied security.

Read more on this topic in the report

Partnerships: shared security through cooperation and dialogue

NATO maintains active partnerships with 35 countries and several international organisations around the world, comprising a range of activities from sharing expertise to capacity-building and crisis prevention.

Read more on this topic in the report
Lithuanian Army soldiers training members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Lithuania, November 2024.
PDF Cover

Download the Secretary General’s Annual Report 2024

Download PDF

Read more