NATO approves a new Strategic Concept against the news treats for Europe

USPA NEWS - “We will make a decision today, or at least at the Summit, to invite Finland and Sweden to become members. That's unprecedented quick.” At the start of the NATO Summit in Madrid, on Wednesday, the Secretary General of the Atlantic Organization, Jens Stoltenberg, pointed one of the matters that was discussed by the leaders of NATO countries. The Atlantic Alliance invited formally Finland and Sweden to be part of the NATO in a quickly process: “I expect that to go rather quickly because Allies are ready to try to make that ratification process happen as quickly as possible. But of course, I cannot promise anything on behalf of 30 parliaments, they have to make those decisions themselves,” Stoltenberg said.

After the inauguration of the Summit, on the morning, the first plenary season was dedicated to the Ukrainian war. President Zelensky participated by videoconference and, according to the Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, “President Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine relies on our continued support. And our message to him was equally clear. Ukraine can count on us. For as long as it takes.” NATO Secretary General added that “Allies will continue to provide major military and financial help. And today, leaders agreed to strengthen our support by agreeing a Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine. This includes secure communications, fuel, medical supplies and body armour. Equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats. And hundreds of portable anti-drone systems.”

“Wars are unpredictable, but we have to be prepared for the long haul. And that was also the clear message to all of us in the room from President Zelensky and our answer was: 'yes, we are prepared.' Because they are fighting for their independence. But they're also fighting for values which are important for NATO, fundamental for NATO: the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every nation. And therefore this matters for our security. Our focus now is to support Ukraine,” said the NATO Secretary General.

Finally, NATO leaders took a historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of the Alliance. This Wednesday, “NATO leaders took the historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. The agreement concluded last night by Türkiye, Finland and Sweden paved the way for this decision. I would like to thank Türkiye, Finland and Sweden for accepting my invitation to engage in negotiations to find a united way forward. This has been hard work over many weeks, with multiple contacts at many different levels. Senior officials have had two rounds of talks in Brussels under my auspices. And last night, we met, President Erdo?an, President Niinistö, and Prime Minister Andersson, and we were able to reach the final agreement,” explained Jens Stoltenberg.

“The decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members demonstrate that NATO’s door is open. It demonstrates that President Putin did not succeed in closing NATO’s door. NATO’s door remains open. And it also demonstrates that we respect the sovereign right of every nation to choose its own path. So we, of course, respected Finland and Sweden when they decided to stay out of NATO for many many years, but then also welcomed them and respected their decision to join NATO,” he said. “NATO Allies have already stepped up and NATO has increased its presence in the Baltic, Nordic region. Of course, when they become members, we can do even more together. What we will make sure with our presence is that we are able to defend all Allies including, of course, Finland and Sweden.”

A new Strategic Concept

NATO leaders took far-reaching decisions to continue adapting the Alliance in the first working session at the Madrid Summit on Wednesday. Allies endorsed NATO's new Strategic Concept, the blueprint for the Alliance in a more dangerous and competitive world. They also decided a ''fundamental shift in our deterrence and defence,” underpinned by increased defence investment and common funding, as well as more support to Ukraine for the longer term. Allies further agreed to launch the NATO Innovation Fund and to set targets to cut NATO’s greenhouse gas emissions.

NATO leaders have endorsed NATO’s new Strategic Concept. “And it is published as we speak. This is the new Strategic Concept. The current one was agreed in 2010 and this is very different from what we agreed back then. It makes clear that Russia poses the most significant and direct threat to our security,” explained Jens Stoltenberg, and added: “In the current concept, we state that Russia is a strategic partner. In the current concept, we do not mention China with a single word. In this, Allies state that China’s coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values. The Concept also sets out our joint position on countering terrorism, as well as cyber and hybrid threats.”