<\/p>\n
| Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 14 June 2021<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We, the Heads of State and Government of the 30 NATO Allies, have gathered in Brussels to reaffirm our unity, solidarity, and cohesion, and to open a new chapter in transatlantic relations, at a time when the security environment we face is increasingly complex.\u00a0 NATO remains the foundation of our collective defence and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions among Allies.\u00a0 NATO is a defensive Alliance and will continue to strive for peace, security, and stability in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic area.\u00a0 We remain firmly committed to NATO\u2019s founding Washington Treaty, including that an attack against one Ally shall be considered an attack against us all, as enshrined in Article 5.\u00a0 We will continue to pursue a 360-degree approach to protect and defend our indivisible security and to fulfil NATO\u2019s three core tasks of collective defence, crisis management, and cooperative security.<\/span><\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO is the strongest and most successful Alliance in history.\u00a0 It guarantees the security of our territory and our one billion citizens, our freedom, and the values we share, including individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.\u00a0 We are bound together by our common values, enshrined in the Washington Treaty, the bedrock of our unity, solidarity, and cohesion.\u00a0 We commit to fulfiling our responsibilities as Allies accordingly.\u00a0 We reaffirm our adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter.\u00a0 We are committed to the rules-based international order.\u00a0 We commit to reinforce consultations when the security or stability of an Ally is threatened or when our fundamental values and principles are at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We face multifaceted threats, systemic competition from assertive and authoritarian powers, as well as growing security challenges to our countries and our citizens from all strategic directions.\u00a0 Russia\u2019s aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security; terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a persistent threat to us all.\u00a0 State and non-state actors challenge the rules-based international order and seek to undermine democracy across the globe.\u00a0 Instability beyond our borders is also contributing to irregular migration and human trafficking.\u00a0 China\u2019s growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance.\u00a0 We will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the Alliance.\u00a0 We are increasingly confronted by cyber, hybrid, and other asymmetric threats, including disinformation campaigns, and by the malicious use of ever-more sophisticated emerging and disruptive technologies.\u00a0 Rapid advances in the space domain are affecting our security.\u00a0 The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the erosion of the arms control architecture also undermine our collective security.\u00a0 Climate change is a threat multiplier that impacts Alliance security.\u00a0 The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territories and our populations against attack, and we will address all threats and challenges which affect Euro-Atlantic security.<\/span><\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We gather at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to test our nations and our resilience.\u00a0 NATO and Allied militaries have supported the civilian response to the pandemic, while ensuring our collective defence and the effectiveness of our operations.\u00a0 We have also provided critical assistance to a number of partners through the delivery of vital medical supplies.\u00a0 We pay tribute to all those who combat this pandemic in our countries and around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At our December 2019 meeting in London, we asked the Secretary General to carry out a forward-looking reflection process to further strengthen NATO\u2019s political dimension, including consultations.\u00a0 We recognise the important contribution of the independent group appointed by the Secretary General to support NATO 2030.\u00a0 As a result, today we agree NATO 2030 \u2013 a transatlantic agenda for the future.\u00a0 Throughout its history, NATO has continuously adapted to a changing security environment.\u00a0 The NATO 2030 agenda complements and builds on our ongoing political and military adaptation, strengthens our ability to deliver on the three core tasks and contributes to making our strong Alliance even stronger and ready for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To that end we agree to:<\/span><\/p>\n a.Reaffirm that NATO is the unique, essential and indispensable transatlantic forum for consultations and joint action on all matters related to our individual and collective security.\u00a0 We pledge to strengthen and broaden our consultations and to ensure that NATO remains flexible and effective to conduct military operations in support of our common security.\u00a0 We reaffirm the Alliance\u2019s shared democratic principles as well as our commitment to the spirit and the letter of the North Atlantic Treaty.\u00a0 We commit to reinforcing consultations when the security or stability of an Ally is threatened or when our fundamental values and principles are at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n b.Strengthen NATO as the organising framework for the collective defence of the Euro-Atlantic area, against all threats, from all directions.\u00a0 We reiterate our commitment to maintaining an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defence capabilities for deterrence and defence, and to the 2014 Defence Investment Pledge, in its entirety.\u00a0 We commit to the full and speedy implementation of ongoing work to further strengthen our deterrence and defence posture, and we pledge to continue to improve the readiness of our forces and to strengthen and modernise the NATO Force Structure to meet current and future defence needs.<\/span><\/p>\n c.Enhance our resilience.\u00a0 Noting that resilience remains a national responsibility, we will adopt a more integrated and better coordinated approach, consistent with our collective commitment under Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty, to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure our militaries can effectively operate in peace, crisis and conflict.\u00a0 Allies will develop a proposal to establish, assess, review and monitor resilience objectives to guide nationally-developed resilience goals and implementation plans.\u00a0 It will be up to each individual Ally to determine how to establish and meet national resilience goals and implementation plans, allowing them to do so in a manner that is compatible with respective national competences, structures, processes and obligations, and where applicable those of the EU.<\/span><\/p>\n d.Foster technological cooperation among Allies in NATO, promote interoperability and encourage the development and adoption of technological solutions to address our military needs.\u00a0 For this purpose we will launch a civil-military Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic.\u00a0 We also agree to establish a NATO Innovation Fund, where Allies who so wish can support start-ups working on dual-use emerging and disruptive technologies in areas key to Allied security.<\/span><\/p>\n e.Enhance NATO\u2019s ability to contribute to preserve and shape the rules-based international order in areas that are important to Allied security.\u00a0 We will increase our dialogue and practical cooperation with existing partners, including with the European Union, aspirant countries and our partners in the Asia Pacific, and strengthen our engagement with key global actors and other new interlocutors beyond the Euro-Atlantic area, including from Africa, Asia and Latin America.<\/span><\/p>\n f.Substantially strengthen NATO\u2019s ability to provide training and capacity building support to partners, recognising that conflict, other security developments and pervasive instability in NATO\u2019s neighbourhood directly impact Allied security.<\/span><\/p>\n g.Aim for NATO to become the leading international organisation when it comes to understanding and adapting to the impact of climate change on security.\u00a0 We agree to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from military activities and installations without impairing personnel safety, operational effectiveness and our deterrence and defence posture.\u00a0 We invite the Secretary General to formulate a realistic, ambitious and concrete target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the NATO political and military structures and facilities and assess the feasibility of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.\u00a0 We will also initiate a regular high-level climate and security dialogue to exchange views and coordinate further action.<\/span><\/p>\n h.Invite the Secretary General to lead the process to develop the next Strategic Concept.\u00a0 The Concept will be negotiated and agreed by the Council in Permanent Session and endorsed by NATO Leaders at the next Summit.<\/span><\/p>\n 7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The NATO 2030 agenda sets a higher level of ambition for NATO.\u00a0 It provides clear guidelines for further adaptation to address existing, new and future threats and challenges, building on the ongoing political and military adaptation of the Alliance.\u00a0 Delivering on the NATO 2030 agenda, the three core tasks and the next Strategic Concept requires adequate resourcing through national defence expenditure and common funding.\u00a0 Based on requirements, we agree to increase such resourcing, including as necessary NATO common funding starting in 2023, taking into account sustainability, affordability and accountability.\u00a0 When we meet in 2022, we will agree, alongside the Strategic Concept, the specific requirements for additional funding up to 2030 and the resource implications across the NATO Military Budget, the NATO Security Investment Programme and the Civil Budget, as well as identify potential efficiency measures.<\/span><\/p>\n 8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO\u2019s fundamental and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means.\u00a0 The evolving security environment increasingly requires us to address threats and challenges through the use of military and non-military tools in a deliberate, coherent, and sustained manner.\u00a0 NATO will take a tailored and structured approach.\u00a0 NATO uses a variety of non-military tools which support the Alliance\u2019s three core tasks.\u00a0 It also serves as a platform for enhancing the coherent use of these tools by Allies, under their own authority and control, and alongside other international actors.\u00a0 We will continue to strengthen effective, clear, and convincing strategic communication as an essential element to support all three of NATO\u2019s core tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n 9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For more than twenty-five years, NATO has worked to build a partnership with Russia, including through the NATO-Russia Council (NRC).\u00a0 While NATO stands by its international commitments, Russia continues to breach the values, principles, trust, and commitments outlined in agreed documents that underpin the NATO-Russia relationship.\u00a0 We reaffirm our decisions towards Russia agreed at the 2014 Wales Summit and all our subsequent NATO meetings.\u00a0 We have suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia, while remaining open to political dialogue.\u00a0 Until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities, there can be no return to \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d.\u00a0 We will continue to respond to the deteriorating security environment by enhancing our deterrence and defence posture, including by a forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.\u00a0 NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia.\u00a0 Decisions we have taken are fully consistent with our international commitments, and therefore cannot be regarded by anyone as contradicting the NATO-Russia Founding Act.<\/span><\/p>\n 10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We call on Russia to rescind the designation of the Czech Republic and the United States as \u201cunfriendly countries\u201d and to refrain from taking any other steps inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.<\/span><\/p>\n 11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Russia\u2019s growing multi-domain military build-up, more assertive posture, novel military capabilities, and provocative activities, including near NATO borders, as well as its large-scale no-notice and snap exercises, the continued military build-up in Crimea, the deployment of modern dual-capable missiles in Kaliningrad, military integration with Belarus, and repeated violations of NATO Allied airspace, increasingly threaten the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and contribute to instability along NATO borders and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n 12.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In addition to its military activities, Russia has also intensified its hybrid actions against NATO Allies and partners, including through proxies.\u00a0 This includes attempted interference in Allied elections and democratic processes; political and economic pressure and intimidation; widespread disinformation campaigns; malicious cyber activities; and turning a blind eye to cyber criminals operating from its territory, including those who target and disrupt critical infrastructure in NATO countries.\u00a0 It also includes illegal and destructive activities by Russian Intelligence Services on Allied territory, some of which have claimed lives of citizens and caused widespread material damage.\u00a0 We stand in full solidarity with the Czech Republic and other Allies that have been affected in this way.<\/span><\/p>\n 13.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Russia has continued to diversify its nuclear arsenal, including by deploying a suite of short- and intermediate-range missile systems that are intended to coerce NATO.\u00a0 Russia has recapitalised roughly 80 percent of its strategic nuclear forces, and it is expanding its nuclear capabilities by pursuing novel and destabilising weapons and a diverse array of dual-capable systems.\u00a0 Russia continues to use aggressive and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and has increased its ongoing emphasis on destabilising conventional exercises that include dual-capable systems.\u00a0 Russia\u2019s nuclear strategy and comprehensive nuclear weapon systems modernisation, diversification, and expansion, including the qualitative and quantitative increase of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons, increasingly support a more aggressive posture of strategic intimidation.\u00a0 We will continue to work closely together to address all the threats and challenges posed by Russia.<\/span><\/p>\n 14.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We reiterate our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova within their internationally recognised borders.\u00a0 In accordance with its international commitments, we call on Russia to withdraw the forces it has stationed in all three countries without their consent.\u00a0 We strongly condemn and will not recognise Russia\u2019s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and denounce its temporary occupation.\u00a0 The human rights abuses and violations against the Crimean Tatars and members of other local communities must end.\u00a0 Russia\u2019s recent massive military build-up and destabilising activities in and around Ukraine have further escalated tensions and undermined security.\u00a0 We call on Russia to reverse its military build-up and stop restricting navigation in parts of the Black Sea.\u00a0 We also call on Russia to stop impeding access to the Sea of Azov and Ukrainian ports.\u00a0 We commend Ukraine\u2019s posture of restraint and diplomatic approach in this context.\u00a0 We seek to contribute to de-escalation.\u00a0 We are also stepping up our support to Ukraine.\u00a0 We call for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements by all sides, and support the efforts of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group.\u00a0 Russia, as a signatory of the Minsk Agreements, bears significant responsibility in this regard.\u00a0 We call on Russia to stop fuelling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs in eastern Ukraine.\u00a0 We reiterate our full support to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.\u00a0 We stress the importance of ensuring its safety and full and unhindered access throughout the entire territory of Ukraine, including Crimea and the Russia-Ukraine border, in accordance with its mandate.\u00a0 We further call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia as independent states; to implement the EU-mediated 2008 ceasefire agreement; to end its militarisation of these regions and attempts to forcibly separate them from the rest of Georgia through the continued construction of border-like obstacles; and to cease the human rights violations, arbitrary detentions, and harassments of Georgian citizens.\u00a0 We reiterate our firm support to the Geneva International Discussions.\u00a0 We also call on Russia to engage constructively in the Transnistria Settlement Process.\u00a0 We are committed to supporting the Republic of Moldova\u2019s democratic reforms and providing assistance through our Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n 15.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We remain open to a periodic, focused, and meaningful dialogue with a Russia willing to engage on the basis of reciprocity in the NRC, with a view to avoiding misunderstanding, miscalculation, and unintended escalation, and to increase transparency and predictability.\u00a0 NRC meetings have helped us communicate clearly our positions, and we are ready for the next meeting of the NRC.\u00a0 We will continue to focus our dialogue with Russia on the critical issues we face.\u00a0 The conflict in and around Ukraine is, in current circumstances, the first topic on our agenda.\u00a0 NATO remains committed to making good use of the existing military lines of communication between both sides to promote predictability and transparency, and to reduce risks, and calls on Russia to do so as well.\u00a0 We continue to aspire to a constructive relationship with Russia when its actions make that possible.<\/span><\/p>\n 16.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, continues to pose a direct threat to the security of our populations, and to international stability and prosperity.\u00a0 We categorically reject and condemn terrorism in the strongest possible terms.\u00a0 Allies will continue to fight this threat with determination, resolve, and in solidarity.\u00a0 While nations retain the primary responsibility for their domestic security and their own resilience, the fight against terrorism demands a coherent, long-term effort by the international community as a whole, involving a wide range of instruments and actors.\u00a0 NATO\u2019s role in the fight against terrorism contributes to all three core tasks of the Alliance, and is an integral part of the Alliance\u2019s 360-degree approach to deterrence and defence.\u00a0 Cooperation in NATO adds value to Allies\u2019 national efforts and capacity to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and be resilient against acts of terrorism.\u00a0 We condemn all financial support of terrorism.\u00a0 We also recognise the need to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.\u00a0 Our approach to terrorism, and its causes, is in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and upholds all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) on the fight against terrorism.<\/span><\/p>\n 17.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We remain fully committed to NATO\u2019s enhanced role in the international community\u2019s fight against terrorism, including through awareness and analysis, preparedness and responsiveness, capabilities, capacity building and partnerships, and operations.\u00a0 We continue to implement our 2019 Action Plan and will update it by the end of this year, to take account of the evolving terrorist threats.\u00a0 We are determined to meet our commitments under UNSCR 2396, including through NATO\u2019s new Battlefield Evidence Policy, supported by improved information and data collection, preservation, sharing, and analysis, within NATO\u2019s mandate.\u00a0 We will continue our work to defend against improvised explosive devices and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.\u00a0 We are developing capabilities to protect our forces against terrorist misuse of technology, while capitalising on emerging technologies to help us in the fight against terrorism.\u00a0 We are also stepping up support to partner countries to fight terrorism themselves and deny terrorists safe haven, which in turn strengthens NATO\u2019s own security.\u00a0 NATO will also continue to engage, as appropriate, with partner countries and other international actors to ensure added value and complementarity.\u00a0 NATO continues to play its part in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS\/Da\u2019esh, including through our Airborne Warning\u00a0& Control System (AWACS) surveillance flights and staff-to-staff support.<\/span><\/p>\n 18.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After almost 20 years, NATO’s military operations in Afghanistan are coming to an end.\u00a0 We have denied terrorists a safe haven from which to plot attacks against us, helped Afghanistan to build its security institutions, and trained, advised, and assisted the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces; they are now taking on full responsibility for security in their country.\u00a0 We pay tribute to those who have lost their lives or have been wounded, and express our deep appreciation to all the men and women who have served under the NATO flag, and to their families.<\/span><\/p>\n 19.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Withdrawing our troops does not mean ending our relationship with Afghanistan.\u00a0 We will now open a new chapter.\u00a0 We affirm our commitment to continue to stand with Afghanistan, its people, and its institutions in promoting security and upholding the <\/span> \n 20.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO remains a leading and active contributor to international security through operations, missions, and activities.\u00a0 We are grateful to our partners for their substantial contributions to these efforts. \u00a0NATO and Allies support Iraq in its fight against ISIS\/Da\u2019esh and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.\u00a0 We commend the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces for their continued efforts to combat ISIS\/Da\u2019esh.\u00a0 Based on a request from the Iraqi Government, we will strengthen our support to Iraq through our NATO Mission Iraq.\u00a0 We will broaden our non-combat advisory, training, and capacity building mission to support Iraq in building more effective, sustainable, accountable, and inclusive security institutions and forces.\u00a0 This expansion of NATO Mission Iraq, including additional support to the Iraqi security institutions, will be demand-driven, incremental, scalable, and based on conditions on the ground.\u00a0 It will be carried out with the full consent of the Iraqi authorities, in full respect of Iraq\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in close coordination with relevant partners and international actors, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS\/Da\u2019esh, the United Nations, and the European Union.<\/span><\/p>\n 21.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Deterrence and defence are at the heart of the Alliance, underpinned by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and an enduring transatlantic bond.\u00a0 We are united and resolute in our ability and commitment to defend one another.\u00a0 We will maintain and further develop the full range of ready forces and capabilities necessary to ensure credible deterrence and defence and provide the Alliance with a wide range of options to tailor our response to specific circumstances and to respond to any threats, from state and non-state actors, from wherever they arise, and potentially from multiple directions in more than one region simultaneously.\u00a0 While reaffirming our commitment to the three core tasks, we have placed a renewed emphasis on collective defence, and have also ensured that NATO retains the ability to project stability and fight against terrorism.<\/span><\/p>\n 22.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We welcome the significant progress already made to implement our previous decisions to strengthen NATO\u2019s deterrence and defence posture and reaffirm our commitment to their full and speedy implementation.\u00a0 We have accelerated our military adaptation with increased defence spending, modern capabilities, enhanced political and military responsiveness, and higher readiness of our forces.\u00a0 <\/em>NATO is taking forward a new military strategy through the implementation of two significant military concepts that will further strengthen our ability to deter and defend against any potential adversary and to maintain and develop our military advantage now and in the future.\u00a0 The deterrence and defence concept provides a single, coherent framework to contest and deter and defend against the Alliance\u2019s main threats in a multi-domain environment, and will strengthen our preparedness to address challenges, particularly pervasive instability and strategic shocks. \u00a0The warfighting concept provides a long-term vision for maintaining and developing NATO\u2019s decisive military edge.\u00a0 The implementation of the deterrence and defence concept will guide enhanced advance planning to respond to potential crisis and conflict, as well as further improve the use and organisation of Allied forces and capabilities in all operational domains and ensure more effective command and control.\u00a0 We are developing strategic, domain-specific and regional military plans to improve our ability to respond to any contingencies and ensure timely reinforcement.\u00a0 We will emphasise persistent activities in peacetime to support deterrence, including through the presence and dynamic posture of our military forces and exercises, based on enhanced coordination amongst Allies and NATO.\u00a0 Through the implementation of the warfighting concept, we will ensure that the Alliance continuously develops its military and technological advantage, as the character of conflict evolves.\u00a0 We commit to the full implementation of these new concepts, and to taking the necessary steps to enhance the coherence between relevant national and NATO activities and plans and the concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n 23.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We commit to further strengthening and modernising the NATO Force Structure to meet current and future deterrence and defence needs.\u00a0 We will ensure a flexible, agile, and resilient multi-domain force architecture with the right forces in the right place at the right time.\u00a0 We will strengthen modern command and control tailored to support our 360-degree posture, dynamic force management, improved response system, and plans.\u00a0 In doing so, we will place increased emphasis on the interdependence of geography, domains, and readiness.\u00a0 As part of these overall efforts, we are committed to continue increasing the readiness of our forces and the Alliance\u2019s rapid response capability, including through the ongoing implementation of the NATO Readiness Initiative, which is designed to strengthen the culture of readiness and help to provide forces at 30 days readiness or less.\u00a0 We have sourced all the combat forces of the NATO Readiness Initiative with 30 major naval combatants, 30 heavy or medium manoeuvre battalions, and 30 kinetic air squadrons.\u00a0 They are being organised and trained as larger combat formations for reinforcement and high-intensity warfighting, or for rapid military crisis intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n 24.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We will ensure that the NATO Command Structure is robust, resilient, and able to undertake all elements of effective command and control for simultaneous challenges across all domains and the full spectrum of missions, including large-scale operations for collective defence.\u00a0 Our two new commands, Joint Force Command Norfolk headquarters and Joint Support and Enabling Command, as well as the Cyberspace Operations Centre, have achieved Initial Operational Capability.\u00a0 Allied contributions to command and control through the NATO Force Structure and national headquarters as well as their strengthened relationship with the NATO Command Structure, including by providing host nation support, remain essential to improve the Alliance\u2019s regional understanding, vigilance, and ability to rapidly respond to any threat from any direction.<\/span><\/p>\n 25.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We will not be constrained by any potential adversary as regards the freedom of movement of Allied forces by land, air, or sea to and within any part of Alliance territory.\u00a0 Our deterrence and defence posture is underpinned by credible forces, both in-place and ready for reinforcement within Europe and from across the Atlantic.\u00a0 We will continue to strengthen and regularly exercise the Alliance\u2019s ability to rapidly reinforce any Ally that comes under threat.\u00a0 We will continue to give high priority, both nationally and in the Alliance, to ensuring enablement of SACEUR\u2019s Area of Responsibility to improve our ability to support the deployment and sustainment of Allied forces into, across, and from the entire Alliance territory.\u00a0 These efforts include taking forward our work on fuel supply distribution arrangements.\u00a0 We reiterate that NATO\u2019s efforts to ensure a coherent approach and synergies with the EU in the area of military mobility should be pursued, including with regard to military mobility related procedures that should apply to all Allies equally.\u00a0 We continue to reinforce our maritime posture and to protect our sea lines of communication.\u00a0 We welcome the establishment of the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence in Turkey.\u00a0 We will maintain awareness of any potential threats to our critical undersea infrastructure and will continue to address them nationally and, where needed, collectively.\u00a0 We welcome the Full Operational Capability of NATO\u2019s Rapid Air Mobility which was activated and utilised by Allies for relief flights carrying critical supplies to Allies and partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n 26.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We reaffirm our commitment to respond in a measured, balanced, coordinated, and timely way to Russia\u2019s growing and evolving array of conventional and nuclear-capable missiles, which is increasing in scale and complexity and which poses significant risks from all strategic directions to security and stability across the Euro-Atlantic area.\u00a0 We will continue to implement a coherent and balanced package of political and military measures to achieve Alliance objectives, including strengthened integrated air and missile defence; advanced defensive and offensive conventional capabilities; steps to keep NATO\u2019s nuclear deterrent safe, secure, and effective; efforts to support and strengthen arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation; intelligence; and exercises.\u00a0 We have no intention to deploy land-based nuclear missiles in Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n 27.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) is an essential and continuous mission in peacetime, crisis, and times of conflict, which contributes to deterrence and defence and the indivisible security and freedom of action of the Alliance, including NATO’s capability to reinforce, and to provide a strategic response.\u00a0 NATO IAMD incorporates all measures to contribute to deter any air and missile threat or to nullify or reduce their effectiveness.\u00a0 This mission is conducted in a 360-degree approach and tailored to address all air and missile threats emanating from all strategic directions.<\/span><\/p>\n 28.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO has enhanced its IAMD mission and we have taken steps to improve our IAMD forces\u2019 readiness and responsiveness in peacetime, crisis, and times of conflict, strengthening our ability to ensure that all necessary measures are implemented for the security of the Alliance.\u00a0 We are taking into account the increasingly diverse and challenging air and missile threats from state and non-state actors ranging from simple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to sophisticated hypersonic missiles.<\/span><\/p>\n 29.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allies will continue to work on NATO IAMD to ensure that it remains flexible and adaptive.\u00a0 Allies will also continue to effectively train and exercise their IAMD forces.\u00a0 Allies have committed to improving NATO IAMD capabilities, including sensors, interceptors, and command and control, in particular through the NATO Defence Planning Process.\u00a0 We welcome the establishment of NATO\u2019s new IAMD Centre of Excellence in Greece.<\/span><\/p>\n 30.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Resilience is essential for credible deterrence and defence and the effective fulfilment of the Alliance\u2019s core tasks.\u00a0 It is a national responsibility and a collective commitment, anchored in Article 3 of the Washington Treaty.\u00a0 Recognising the significant progress achieved since our Resilience Commitment at the 2016 Warsaw Summit, we have agreed today a Strengthened Resilience Commitment that sets out further steps we intend to take in the coming years.\u00a0 We will continue to take a whole-of-government approach to enhancing the resilience of our societies, and achieving the seven NATO Baseline Requirements for national resilience, through enhanced civil-military cooperation and civil preparedness; closer engagement with our populations, the private sector, and non-governmental actors; and the centres of expertise on resilience established by Allies.\u00a0 We welcome the establishment of the Euro-Atlantic Centre for Resilience in Romania.\u00a0 NATO and Allies, within their respective authority, will maintain and enhance the security of our critical infrastructure, key industries, supply chains, and communication information networks, including 5G.\u00a0 NATO will further strengthen its own resilience, ensuring our ability to consult, decide, and act together. \u00a0We will continue to work closely with ourpartners and other international organisations engaged in similar efforts in order to make the Euro-Atlantic area and our broader neighbourhood more secure.<\/span><\/p>\n 31.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our nations continue to face threats and challenges from both state and non-state actors who use hybrid activities to target our political institutions, our public opinion, and the security of our citizens.\u00a0 While the primary responsibility for responding to hybrid threats rests with the targeted nation, NATO is ready, upon Council decision, to assist an Ally at any stage of a hybrid campaign being conducted against it, including by deploying a Counter Hybrid Support Team.\u00a0 In cases of hybrid warfare, the Council could decide to invoke Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, as in the case of an armed attack.\u00a0 NATO and Allies will continue to prepare for, deter, and defend against hybrid threats.\u00a0 Individual Allies may consider, when appropriate, attributing hybrid activities and responding in a coordinated manner, recognising attribution is a sovereign national prerogative.\u00a0 We are enhancing our situational awareness and expanding the tools at our disposal to counter hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns, by developing comprehensive preventive and response options.\u00a0 We will also continue to support our partners as they strengthen their resilience in the face of hybrid challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n 32.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cyber threats to the security of the Alliance are complex, destructive, coercive, and becoming ever more frequent.\u00a0 This has been recently illustrated by ransomware incidents and other malicious cyber activity targeting our critical infrastructure and democratic institutions, which might have systemic effects and cause significant harm.\u00a0 To face this evolving challenge, we have today endorsed NATO\u2019s Comprehensive Cyber Defence Policy, which will support NATO\u2019s three core tasks and overall deterrence and defence posture, and further enhance our resilience.\u00a0 Reaffirming NATO\u2019s defensive mandate, the Alliance is determined to employ the full range of capabilities at all times to actively deter, defend against, and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats, including those conducted as part of hybrid campaigns, in accordance with international law.\u00a0 We reaffirm that a decision as to when a cyber attack would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis.\u00a0 Allies recognise that the impact of significant malicious cumulative cyber activities might, in certain circumstances, be considered as amounting to an armed attack.\u00a0 We remain committed to act in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law as applicable.\u00a0 We will promote a free, open, peaceful, and secure cyberspace, and further pursue efforts to enhance stability and reduce the risk of conflict by supporting international law and voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.\u00a0 We will make greater use of NATO as a platform for political consultation among Allies, sharing concerns about malicious cyber activities, and exchanging national approaches and responses, as well as considering possible collective responses.\u00a0 If necessary, we will impose costs on those who harm us.\u00a0 Our response need not be restricted to the cyber domain.\u00a0 We will enhance our situational awareness to support NATO\u2019s decision-making.\u00a0 Resilience and the ability to detect, prevent, mitigate, and respond to vulnerabilities and intrusions is critical, as demonstrated by malicious cyber actors\u2019 exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0 NATO as an organisation will therefore continue to adapt and improve its cyber defences.\u00a0 Five years since the adoption of our Cyber Defence Pledge, we remain committed to uphold strong national cyber defences as a matter of priority.\u00a0 We continue to implement cyberspace as a domain of operations.\u00a0 <\/strong>We will enhance the effective integration of sovereign cyber effects, provided voluntarily by Allies, into collective defence and Alliance operations and missions, in the framework of strong political oversight.\u00a0 We will further seek to develop mutually beneficial and effective partnerships as appropriate, including with partner countries, international organisations, industry, and academia, furthering our efforts to enhance international stability in cyberspace.\u00a0 We welcome the recent opening of the NATO Communications and Information Academy in Portugal.<\/span><\/p>\n 33.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We recognise the growing importance of space for the security and prosperity of our nations and for NATO\u2019s deterrence and defence.\u00a0 Secure access to space services, products, and capabilities is essential for the conduct of the Alliance\u2019s operations, missions and activities.\u00a0 We will accelerate our work to deepen and expand our use of space as an operational domain, including through the NATO Space Centre in Germany and the upcoming establishment of the Space Centre of Excellence in France, which we welcome.\u00a0 We will strengthen NATO\u2019s space domain awareness and better integrate space in our activities, including training and exercises, resilience, and innovation efforts.\u00a0 Consistent with the Overarching Space Policy, NATO’s approach to space will remain fully in line with international law.\u00a0 We support the international efforts to promote responsible behaviour in space.\u00a0 We consider that attacks to, from, or within space present a clear challenge to the security of the Alliance, the impact of which could threaten national and Euro-Atlantic prosperity, security, and stability, and could be as harmful to modern societies as a conventional attack.\u00a0 Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5.\u00a0 A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis.<\/span><\/p>\n 34.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We continue to stand and act together in response to the challenging security environment.\u00a0 As it continues to evolve, the Alliance will continue to respond and adapt as necessary.\u00a0 Since the Warsaw Summit, we have established a forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.\u00a0 We continue to improve our enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland through alignment with plans and by ensuring the ability of the four combat-ready battlegroups to operate with national home defence forces in an integrated manner.\u00a0 We have increased our contributions to our tailored Forward Presence on land, at sea, and in the air in the Black Sea region, and we remain committed to its full implementation.\u00a0 <\/strong>Our assurance measures, including exercises and various other air, land, and maritime activities, remain in place and continue to provide the fundamental baseline requirement for assurance and deterrence.\u00a0 We have increased our contributions to our tailored assurance measures for Turkey, and we remain committed to their full implementation.\u00a0 We have a range of forces, including the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, which are ready to deploy on short notice to respond to any contingencies and reinforce Allies.\u00a0 The full implementation of NATO\u2019s Framework for the South, as an enduring component of NATO\u2019s deterrence and defence posture, is ongoing.\u00a0 Building on the progress achieved since 2016, including the establishment of the Hub for the South, we will continue to strengthen our capacity to deal with the threats and challenges emanating from the South, including in the Mediterranean Sea region and its approaches, by enhancing our strategic awareness, our plans, and the readiness of our forces.\u00a0 In the High North, we will continue to undertake necessary, calibrated, and coordinated activities in support of the Alliance\u2019s security interests.\u00a0 We will seek to strengthen cooperation with relevant and like-minded partners in the interests of NATO\u2019s agreed deterrence and defence objectives, in line with NATO\u2019s decisions, policies and procedures, as appropriate, and with consideration of political implications.<\/span><\/p>\n 35.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all aspects of the Defence Investment Pledge agreed at the 2014 Wales Summit.\u00a0 Fair burden sharing underpins the Alliance\u2019s cohesion, solidarity, credibility, and ability to fulfil our fundamental Article 3 and Article 5 commitments.\u00a0 We are, individually and collectively, committed to further improving the balance of sharing the costs and responsibilities of Alliance membership. \u00a0We have made considerable progress since the Wales Summit with seven consecutive years of real growth in non-US defence expenditure, which reinforces our shared responsibility to provide capabilities to the Alliance.\u00a0 All Allies have increased the amount they spend on defence in real terms and this trend is set to continue.\u00a0 Since 2014, European Allies and Canada will have added 260 billion US dollars by the end of this year.\u00a0 Furthermore, ten Allies are expected to spend 2% or more of GDP on defence this year.\u00a0 About two-thirds of Allies plan to reach or exceed the 2% guideline by 2024.\u00a0 Additionally, 24 Allies are spending more than 20% of their defence expenditures on major equipment, including related research and development, and, according to their national plans, 27 Allies will meet the 20% guideline by 2024.\u00a0 Our overall security and defence depend both on how much we spend and how we spend it.\u00a0 Allies continue to make valuable force and capability contributions that benefit the security of the Euro-Atlantic area through NATO\u2019s operations, missions, and other activities, as well as through the operations and missions conducted under national authority and the authority of other organisations.\u00a0 Allies invest considerable resources in preparing their forces, capabilities, and infrastructure for Alliance activities and Allies\u2019 operations.\u00a0 In the years ahead, in line with the Defence Investment Pledge and building on the good progress to date, we affirm our commitment to continue our efforts as a matter of priority across the three pillars of cash, capabilities, and contributions.\u00a0 We must and will do more.<\/span><\/p>\n 36.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We are investing in our military capabilities in order to meet new and enduring challenges across all operational domains.\u00a0 We continue to deliver an array of robust and sophisticated capabilities across all domains, including heavier, more high-end, technologically advanced, better-supported forces and capabilities at the required readiness.\u00a0 We will continue to improve and adapt the sustainability, deployability, and interoperability of our capabilities for a demanding strategic environment, as well as high-end operations.\u00a0 Our national capability development plans will support the full and timely implementation of the capabilities, in particular those required by the Alliance in line with the NATO Defence Planning Process.\u00a0 In light of the pace, breadth, and scale of technological developments, as we further develop our forces and capabilities, we recognise the vital importance of research and development and innovation to exploit the opportunities and to address the challenges posed by emerging and disruptive technologies.\u00a0 This will help to ensure, individually and collectively, our technological edge now and in the future.\u00a0 We continue working to address, as appropriate, existing dependencies on Russian-sourced legacy military equipment through national efforts and multinational cooperation.\u00a0 We welcome the modernisation of the NATO AWACS fleet and the progress of the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control programme, as well as the initial operations of the new Alliance Ground Surveillance Force.\u00a0 Through NATO-supported multinational cooperation projects, Allies are committed to working together to develop or acquire new capabilities in key areas such as air-to-air refuelling, training, precision strike, munitions, air defence, CBRN defence, autonomous systems, and next-generation rotorcraft capability.<\/span><\/p>\n 37.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The speed of technological change has never been higher, creating both new opportunities and risks in the security environment and to the way NATO operates.\u00a0 We are determined to preserve our technological edge, and ensure Alliance interoperability, in order to maintain the credibility of our deterrence and defence posture.\u00a0 We have recently taken important steps to that end, building on the Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs) Roadmap we agreed in 2019, and have now adopted our strategy to foster and protect EDTs.\u00a0 This strategy outlines a clear approach for identifying, developing, and adopting EDTs at the speed of relevance, guided by principles of responsible use, in accordance with international law,and taking into account discussions in relevant international fora.\u00a0 Moreover, this strategy seeks to preserve our interoperability; safeguard our sensitive technologies; and actively address the threats and challenges posed by technological developments by others, both now and in the future.\u00a0 Drawing on the extensive innovation expertise of all 30 Allies, we will further leverage our partnerships, including with the private sector and academia, to maintain our technological edge.<\/span><\/p>\n 38.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territory and our populations against attack, as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. \u00a0No one should doubt NATO’s resolve if the security of any of its members were to be threatened.\u00a0 Faced with a highly diverse, complex, and demanding international security environment, NATO is determined to maintain the full range of capabilities necessary to deter and defend against any threat to the safety and security of our populations, wherever it should arise.<\/span><\/p>\n 39.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Credible deterrence and defence is essential as a means to prevent conflict and war and will continue to be based on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional, and missile defence capabilities.\u00a0 A robust deterrence and defence posture strengthens Alliance cohesion and provides an essential political and military transatlantic link, through an equitable and sustainable distribution of roles, responsibilities, and burdens.\u00a0 We acknowledge the increasingly challenging security environment with risks arising from changes in the posture, doctrine, and behaviour of potential adversaries and their significant investments to develop, modernise, and expand capabilities.\u00a0 NATO continues to adapt and remains steadfast in its resolve to take all necessary steps to ensure that its deterrence and defence posture remains credible, coherent, resilient, and adaptable to the security environment.<\/span><\/p>\n 40.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allies\u2019 goal is to continue to bolster deterrence as a core element of our collective defence and to contribute to the indivisible security of the Alliance.\u00a0 As long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance.\u00a0 In response to the more challenging security environment, NATO has taken steps to ensure its nuclear deterrent capabilities remain safe, secure, and effective.\u00a0 The strategic forces of the Alliance, particularly those of the United States, are the supreme guarantee of the security of Allies.\u00a0 The independent strategic nuclear forces of the United Kingdom and France have a deterrent role of their own and contribute significantly to the overall security of the Alliance.\u00a0 These Allies\u2019 separate centres of decision-making contribute to deterrence by complicating the calculations of potential adversaries.\u00a0 NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture also relies on United States’ nuclear weapons forward-deployed in Europe and the capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies concerned.\u00a0 National contributions of dual-capable aircraft to NATO’s nuclear deterrence mission remain central to this effort.\u00a0 The Alliance reaffirms the imperative to ensure the broadest possible participation by Allies concerned in the agreed nuclear burden-sharing arrangements to demonstrate Alliance unity and resolve.\u00a0 Allies concerned will continue to drive forward progress on sustaining leadership focus and institutional excellence for the nuclear deterrence mission.\u00a0 Allies will also continue to ensure greater coherence between conventional and nuclear components of NATO\u2019s deterrence and defence posture, strengthen effective strategic communications and enhance the effectiveness of NATO exercises to maintain and demonstrate a credible deterrence and reduce strategic risk.\u00a0 NATO supports efforts towards strategic risk reduction which constitute important contributions to regional and international security.\u00a0 In particular, transparency and dialogue can help avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.<\/span><\/p>\n 41.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.\u00a0 Given the deteriorating security environment in Europe, a credible and united nuclear Alliance is essential.\u00a0 Nuclear weapons are unique.\u00a0 The circumstances in which NATO might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote.\u00a0 NATO reiterates that any employment of nuclear weapons against NATO would fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict.\u00a0 If the fundamental security of any of its members were to be threatened, however, NATO has the capabilities and resolve to impose costs on an adversary that would be unacceptable and far outweigh the benefits that any adversary could hope to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n 42.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Missile defence can complement the role of nuclear weapons in deterrence; it cannot substitute them.\u00a0 We reaffirm our commitment to continue to deliver a NATO Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability, to pursue the Alliance’s core task of collective defence and to provide full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territory, and forces against the increasing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles.\u00a0 NATO BMD is purely defensive.\u00a0 The aim and political principles of NATO BMD remain unchanged from the 2010 Lisbon Summit.\u00a0 These principles are the indivisibility of Allies\u2019 security and NATO solidarity, equitable sharing of risks and burdens as well as reasonable challenge, taking into account the level of threat, affordability, and technical feasibility, and in accordance with the latest common threat assessments agreed by the Alliance.\u00a0 Should international efforts reduce the threats posed by ballistic missile proliferation, NATO missile defence can and will adapt accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n 43.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO BMD is based on voluntary national contributions, including the US European Phased Adaptive Approach assets in Romania, Turkey, Spain, and Poland, as well as the NATO BMD command and control, the only component eligible for common funding.\u00a0 Additional voluntary national contributions will provide robustness.\u00a0 We are committed to completing additional essential components of NATO BMD command and control, which is necessary for achieving the next major milestone before reaching the Full Operational Capability.\u00a0 Full Allied political control and oversight are essential, and full implementation will be ensured and monitored.\u00a0 We will continue to engage with third states on a case-by-case basis to enhance transparency, build mutual confidence, and increase ballistic missile defence effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n 44.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO BMD is not directed against Russia and will not undermine Russia’s strategic deterrence.\u00a0 NATO BMD is intended to defend against potential threats emanating from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.\u00a0 We have explained to Russia many times that the BMD system is not capable against Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent and there is no intention to redesign this system to have such a capability in the future.\u00a0 Hence, Russian statements threatening to target Allies because of NATO BMD are unacceptable and counterproductive.\u00a0 Should Russia be ready to discuss BMD with NATO, and subject to Alliance agreement, NATO remains open to the discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n 45.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation have made and should continue to make an essential contribution to achieving the Alliance\u2019s security objectives and for ensuring strategic stability and our collective security.\u00a0 NATO has a long track record of doing its part on disarmament and non-proliferation.\u00a0 After the end of the Cold War, NATO dramatically reduced the number of nuclear weapons stationed in Europe and its reliance on nuclear weapons in NATO strategy.\u00a0 We regret that the conditions for achieving disarmament have not been realised since the 2018 Brussels NATO Summit.\u00a0 Allies remain collectively determined to uphold and support existing disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation agreements and commitments.\u00a0 We will further strengthen arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security, taking into account the prevailing security environment.\u00a0 <\/strong>We welcome and fully support the agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation to extend the New START Treaty for five years.\u00a0 NATO Allies believe the New START Treaty contributes to international stability, and Allies again express their strong support for its continued implementation and for early and active dialogue on ways to improve strategic stability.\u00a0 Allies will welcome new strategic talks between the United States and Russia on future arms control measures, taking into account all Allies\u2019 security.\u00a0 Allies will support further arms control negotiations, with the aim of improving the security of the Alliance, taking into account the prevailing international security environment.<\/span><\/p>\n 46.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO remains clear-eyed about the challenges Russia poses, including the qualitative and quantitative increase of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons.\u00a0 The Alliance will be guided by experience, not least Russia\u2019s material breach of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which ultimately led to the termination of that agreement.\u00a0 NATO will continue to respond in a measured and responsible way to the significant risks posed by the Russian 9M729 missile, and other short- and intermediate-range missiles, to Allied security.\u00a0 We have agreed a balanced, coordinated, and defensive package of measures to ensure NATO’s deterrence and defence posture remains credible and effective, including through potential arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation contributions.\u00a0 Russia\u2019s proposal for a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in Europe is inconsistent with Russia\u2019s unilateral and ongoing deployment of such systems on the continent and would not prevent Russia from building up such missiles outside of its European territory; this proposal is therefore not credible and not acceptable.\u00a0 At the same time, NATO Allies remain open to meaningful arms control discussions and dialogue on reciprocal transparency and confidence-building measures that would take into account security interests of all Allies and increase security across the Alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n 47.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) remains the essential bulwark against the spread of nuclear weapons, the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, and the framework for international cooperation in sharing the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, science, and technology.\u00a0 Allies remain strongly committed to the full implementation of the NPT in all its aspects, as an irreplaceable platform, and the strengthening of the NPT across its mutually reinforcing three pillars.\u00a0 We are committed to working towards a meaningful outcome at the upcoming Tenth Review Conference, which presents a major opportunity to contribute to the preservation, universalisation, and full implementation of the NPT.\u00a0 The Alliance reaffirms its resolve to seek a safer world for all and to take further practical steps and effective measures to create the conditions for further nuclear disarmament negotiations.\u00a0 NATO Allies support the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons in full accordance with all provisions of the NPT, including Article VI, in an ever more effective and verifiable way that promotes international stability, and is based on the principle of undiminished security for all.\u00a0 NATO’s nuclear arrangements have always been fully consistent with the NPT, which remains the only credible path to nuclear disarmament.\u00a0 The enduring success of the NPT cannot be taken for granted and requires sustained effort to further its achievements.\u00a0 In this spirit, we call on all NPT States Parties to work together towards a successful Tenth Review Conference.\u00a0 We reiterate our opposition to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which is inconsistent with the Alliance\u2019s nuclear deterrence policy, is at odds with the existing non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, risks undermining the NPT, and does not take into account the current security environment.\u00a0 The TPNW does not change the legal obligations on our countries with respect to nuclear weapons.\u00a0 We do not accept any argument that the TPNW reflects or in any way contributes to the development of customary international law.\u00a0 We call on our partners and all other countries to reflect realistically on the ban treaty\u2019s impact on international peace and security, including on the NPT, and join us in working to improve collective security through tangible and verifiable measures that can reduce strategic risks and enable lasting progress on nuclear disarmament.<\/span><\/p>\n 48.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While NATO is not itself party to any arms control agreement, Allies will make best use of NATO as an important platform for in-depth discussion and close consultations on arms control efforts that will support Alliance unity, political cohesion, and solidarity.\u00a0 We continue actively to address the collapse of the INF Treaty due to Russian actions, and we are committed to maintain appropriate consultations among Allies on these issues.<\/span><\/p>\n 49.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We remain deeply concerned by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD), as well as their means of delivery and related materials, by states and non-state actors, which represents a growing threat to our populations, territory, and forces.\u00a0 We condemn in the strongest possible terms the repeated use of chemical weapons in Syria, as well as use in Iraq, Russia, Malaysia, and, for the first time since NATO\u2019s foundation on Allied territory, the United Kingdom.\u00a0 The use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, for any reason is unacceptable.\u00a0 There can be no impunity for those who use chemical weapons.\u00a0 We therefore welcome, as an important step towards accountability, the decision by the April 2021 Conference of the State Parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to suspend Syria\u2019s rights and privileges under the CWC.\u00a0 We are determined to uphold the CWC and the global norm against the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons, and to hold those who use chemical weapons accountable for their actions, including through our joint commitment within the International Partnership Against the Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons.\u00a0 We support the full implementation of the CWC and the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in addressing WMD threats and condemn those who seek to impede its work.\u00a0 NATO remains committed to ensuring that Allies can protect their populations, forces, and territories against CBRN threats, including through reviewing NATO\u2019s Comprehensive, Strategic Level Policy for Preventing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Defending against CBRN Threats.\u00a0 We are united in our resolve to promote the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.\u00a0 We underline the need to bring the treaty into force and we support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission, including the International Data Centre and International Monitoring System.\u00a0 We call for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive devices in accordance with Conference on Disarmament report CD\/1299 and the mandate contained therein.\u00a0 In the meantime, the Alliance calls on all states to declare and maintain voluntary moratoria on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.<\/span><\/p>\n 50.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>We remain committed to conventional arms control as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security.\u00a0 We are determined to preserve, strengthen, and modernise conventional arms control in Europe, based on key principles and commitments, including reciprocity, transparency, and host nation consent.\u00a0 Russia\u2019s continuing aggressive military posture, its refusal to fully comply with its obligations under the Treaty on Open Skies, its ongoing selective implementation of the Vienna Document, and its long-standing failure to implement the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, continue to undermine security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.\u00a0 Allies call on Russia to return to full implementation of, and compliance with the letter and spirit of all of its international obligations and commitments, which is essential to rebuilding trust and confidence, military transparency and increasing predictability in the Euro-Atlantic region.\u00a0 We specifically call on Russia to be open and transparent about its no-notice snap exercises, large-scale exercises and large-scale troop movements, in accordance with its Vienna Document commitments, particularly in light of its recent unprovoked and unjustified military build-up in and around Ukraine.\u00a0 Allies underscore the importance of modernising the Vienna Document, and welcome the broad support for its comprehensive modernisation package.\u00a0 We look forward to intensified discussions in the Forum for Security Cooperation leading to consensus on an updated Vienna Document at the 2021 OSCE Ministerial.\u00a0 To maintain the contributions of the Treaty on Open Skies to the security of all State Parties, it is essential that all State Parties fully implement its provisions.\u00a0 We will continue to actively support ongoing discussions at the OSCE, including the Structured Dialogue.\u00a0 We call on Russia to engage constructively on all these efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n 51.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We reiterate the Alliance\u2019s full support to the goal of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea, in accordance with relevant UNSCRs.\u00a0 We call on the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to engage in meaningful negotiations with the United States towards achieving this goal.\u00a0 We urge the DPRK to fully implement its international obligations; to eliminate its nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare capabilities and ballistic missiles; to return to the NPT and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and to abandon all related programmes.\u00a0 We call on nations to fully implement existing UN sanctions.<\/span><\/p>\n 52.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>We are committed to ensuring that Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon.\u00a0 We welcome the substantive discussions between Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) participants, and separately with the United States, to accomplish a mutual return to compliance with the JCPoA by the United States and Iran.\u00a0 We support the goal of restoring the non-proliferation benefits of the JCPoA and of ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran\u2019s nuclear programme.\u00a0 It is vital that Iran preserves the space for these discussions by avoiding any further escalation.\u00a0 We strongly support the IAEA in its crucial monitoring and verification work to help ensure Iran\u2019s compliance with the NPT-related safeguards obligations, as well as its other commitments.\u00a0 A restored and fully implemented JCPoA could also pave the way to further address regional and security concerns, including in support of the non-proliferation regime.\u00a0 We condemn Iran\u2019s support to proxy forces and non-state armed actors, including through financing, training, and the proliferation of missile technology and weapons.\u00a0 We call on Iran to stop all ballistic missile activities inconsistent with UNSCR 2231, refrain from destabilising actions, and play a constructive role in fostering regional stability and peace.<\/span><\/p>\n Syria retains an inventory of short-range ballistic missiles whose range covers parts of NATO\u2019s territory and some of our partners\u2019 territories.\u00a0 Syria has used these missiles extensively against its own population.\u00a0 We remain vigilant over missile launches from Syria which could again hit or target Turkey.\u00a0 <\/strong>We continue to monitor and assess the ballistic missile threat from Syria.<\/span><\/p>\n The increasing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles in the vicinity of the south-eastern border of the Alliance has been, and remains a driver in NATO\u2019s development and deployment of a ballistic missile defence system, which is configured to counter threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.<\/span><\/p>\n 53.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The conflict in Syria has entered its eleventh year and continues to have significant consequences on the stability of the region and the security of NATO\u2019s south-eastern border.\u00a0 We remain concerned and vigilant over its ramifications.\u00a0 We reiterate our determination to defend NATO territory and borders against any threats and to address challenges emanating from Syria.\u00a0 The presidential elections held on 26 May 2021 by the Syrian regime cannot be considered as free and fair and do not contribute to the efforts to achieve a political solution.\u00a0 We underline that stability and security cannot be reinstated in Syria without a genuine political process in line with UNSCR 2254.\u00a0 We call for a nationwide ceasefire and the reauthorisation and expansion of the UN cross-border humanitarian assistance for a period of at least 12\u00a0months in order to meet the needs of the Syrian people.\u00a0 We reiterate our appreciation to our Ally Turkey for hosting millions of Syrian refugees.<\/span><\/p>\n 54.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allies remain deeply concerned about developments in Belarus since August 2020.\u00a0 The policies and actions of Belarus have implications for regional stability and have violated the principles which underpin our partnership.\u00a0 NATO will remain vigilant of and monitor the implications for the security of the Alliance.\u00a0 The\u00a0unacceptable diversion of a civilian aircraft in May 2021 and the subsequent arrest of a journalist and his partner travelling on board endangered the safety of civilians and was a grave affront to political dissent and freedom of the press.\u00a0 We support the independent investigations, including by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).\u00a0 We support measures taken by Allies individually and collectively in response to this incident.\u00a0 We call on Belarus to abide by international law, respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including those belonging to the Union of Poles in Belarus.\u00a0 A democratic, sovereign, and stable Belarus is in all of our interests.\u00a0 Allies stand ready for a mutually beneficial NATO-Belarus partnership, taking into account political and security conditions.\u00a0 We will follow the scale, scope, and aftermath of the Zapad-2021 exercise, and continue to call on Russia and Belarus to act in a predictable, transparent way in compliance with their international obligations and OSCE commitments.<\/span><\/p>\n 55.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 China’s stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security.\u00a0 We are concerned by those coercive policies which stand in contrast to the fundamental values enshrined in the Washington Treaty.\u00a0 China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and a larger number of sophisticated delivery systems to establish a nuclear triad.\u00a0 It is opaque in implementing its military modernisation and its publicly declared military-civil fusion strategy.\u00a0 It is also cooperating militarily with Russia, including through participation in Russian exercises in the Euro-Atlantic area.\u00a0 We remain concerned with China\u2019s frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation.\u00a0 We call on China to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system, including in the space, cyber, and maritime domains, in keeping with its role as a major power.<\/span><\/p>\n 56.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO maintains a constructive dialogue with China where possible.\u00a0 Based on our interests, we welcome opportunities to engage with China on areas of relevance to the Alliance and on common challenges such as climate change.\u00a0 There is value in information exchange on respective policies and activities, to enhance awareness and discuss potential disagreements.\u00a0 Allies urge China to engage meaningfully in dialogue, confidence-building, and transparency measures regarding its nuclear capabilities and doctrine.\u00a0 Reciprocal transparency and understanding would benefit both NATO and China.<\/span><\/p>\n 57.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We are working together as an Alliance and with like-minded partners, in particular with the European Union, to protect critical infrastructure, strengthen resilience, maintain our technological edge, and address these challenges to the rules-based international order.<\/span><\/p>\n 58.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our times.\u00a0 It is a threat multiplier that impacts Allied security, both in the Euro-Atlantic area and in the Alliance\u2019s broader neighbourhood.\u00a0 Climate change puts our resilience and civil preparedness to the test, affects our planning and the resilience of our military installations and critical infrastructure, and may create harsher conditions for our operations.\u00a0 Today we have endorsed an Action Plan to implement our NATO Agenda on Climate Change and Security, which increases our awareness, adaptation, mitigation, and outreach efforts, while ensuring a credible deterrence and defence posture and upholding the priorities of the safety of military personnel and operational and cost effectiveness.\u00a0 To increase awareness, NATO will conduct annual assessments of the impact of climate change on its strategic environment as well as on missions and operations.\u00a0 To adapt to climate change, NATO will incorporate climate change considerations into its full spectrum of work, ranging from defence planning and capability development to civil preparedness and exercises.\u00a0 To contribute to the mitigation of climate change, drawing on best practices of Allies, and taking into account their different national circumstances, NATO will develop a mapping methodology to help Allies measure greenhouse gas emissions from military activities and installations, which could contribute to formulating voluntary goals to reduce such emissions.\u00a0 NATO will also strengthen exchanges with partner countries as well as with international and regional organisations that are active on climate change and security issues.<\/span><\/p>\n 59.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Energy security plays an important role in our common security.\u00a0 A stable and reliable energy supply, the diversification of routes, suppliers, and energy resources, including the integration of sustainable energy sources, and the interconnectivity of energy networks, are all of critical importance and increase our resilience against political and economic pressure.\u00a0 It is essential to ensure that the members of the Alliance are not vulnerable to political or coercive manipulation of energy, which constitutes a potential threat.\u00a0 Allies will therefore continue to seek further diversification of their energy supplies, in line with their needs and conditions.\u00a0 While these issues are primarily the responsibility of national authorities, energy developments can have significant political and security implications for Allies and also affect our partners.\u00a0 Consequently, we will continue to enhance our strategic awareness, including through regular Allied consultations and intelligence sharing, and will strengthen our links with relevant international organisations.\u00a0 We will further develop NATO\u2019s capacity to support national authorities in protecting critical infrastructure, including against malicious hybrid and cyber activity.\u00a0 We will ensure reliable energy supplies to our military forces.<\/span><\/p>\n 60.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO has long recognised the importance of Human Security, which focuses on risks and threats to populations in conflict or crisis areas and how to mitigate and respond to them.\u00a0 Taking a Human Security approach is a reflection of our values and makes us more operationally effective.\u00a0 We are committed to ensuring that all efforts are made to avoid, minimise, and mitigate any potential negative effects on civilians arising from our missions or activities, as underscored in our Policy for the Protection of Civilians.\u00a0 Today, we endorse NATO\u2019s new Policy on Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, a landmark demonstration of our commitment to addressing such violence, which inflicts long-term stigma and trauma on individuals and families, contributes to their marginalisation, destroys the social fabric of communities, triggers displacement, fuels armed actors\u2019 activities, fosters prolonged conflict and instability, and is an impediment to sustainable peace and reconciliation.\u00a0 We are updating our policy on combating trafficking in human beings.\u00a0 Our ongoing work on Human Security also includes Children and Armed Conflict and Cultural Property Protection.\u00a0 NATO will continue to work with its partners, international organisations, and civil society to further our Human Security agenda, which includes robust policies and clear operational guidelines, in support of lasting peace and security and our populations\u2019 common defence.<\/span><\/p>\n 61.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Recognising the critical importance of women\u2019s full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and stability, as well as the disproportionate impact that conflict has on women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence, we are committed to fully implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda set out by the UN Security Council.\u00a0 NATO\u2019s Policy and Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security better prepare the Alliance to address the challenges of today and tomorrow.\u00a0 NATO\u2019s Policy on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, agreed in 2019, reinforces our commitment to hold ourselves to the highest standards of behaviour, in keeping with our values.\u00a0 Working together with partners, international organisations, and civil society, we will consistently continue to implement our policy on Women, Peace and Security, and, in this context, we will advance gender equality and integrate gender perspectives and foster the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in all that we do, including in NATO operations, missions, and activities.<\/span><\/p>\n 62.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We remain committed to NATO\u2019s Building Integrity Policy and Programme.\u00a0 Corruption and poor governance undermine democracy, the rule of law, and economic development, thus constituting challenges to our security.\u00a0 Implementing measures to improve integrity building, to fight against corruption, and to foster good governance is of continued importance for NATO, Allies, and partners alike.<\/span><\/p>\n 63.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO\u2019s partnerships are, and will continue to be, essential to the way NATO works.\u00a0 The success of NATO\u2019s partnerships is demonstrated by their strategic contribution to Alliance and international security.\u00a0 They play an important role in supporting NATO\u2019s three core tasks and our 360-degree security approach.\u00a0 They are central to advancing NATO\u2019s cooperative security agenda, helping to shape our security environment, and contributing to stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, and to the pursuit of NATO\u2019s political and military objectives.\u00a0 We remain committed to the principles underpinning our relations with our partners, and have taken steps to make our partnerships more strategic, more coherent, and more effective.\u00a0 The Alliance\u2019s partner relationships are also based on reciprocity, mutual benefit and mutual respect.\u00a0 We will strengthen political dialogue and practical cooperation with our partners.\u00a0 We are grateful to our partners for their significant contributions to NATO\u2019s situational awareness, operations, missions, and activities, including Trust Fund projects.\u00a0 We recognise their sacrifices for Euro-Atlantic and international security over the years.\u00a0 We will continue to improve interoperability, in particular with our Enhanced Opportunities Partners.\u00a0 Recognising that conflict and instability in NATO\u2019s neighbourhood directly undermine Allied security, we will continue to intensify NATO\u2019s assistance and capacity building support to our partners.\u00a0 We reaffirm our commitment to expand political dialogue and practical cooperation with any nation that shares the Alliance\u2019s values and interest in international peace and security and will further develop our partnerships so that they continue to meet the interests of both Allies and partners.\u00a0 In line with our Comprehensive Approach Action Plan, we will continue to pursue coherence within NATO’s own tools and strands of work, concerted approaches with partner nations and organisations such as the UN, the EU, and the OSCE, as well as further dialogue with non-governmental organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n 64.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The European Union remains a unique and essential partner for NATO.\u00a0 The NATO-EU strategic partnership is essential for the security and prosperity of our nations and of the Euro-Atlantic area.\u00a0 NATO recognises the importance of a stronger and more capable European defence.\u00a0 The development of coherent, complementary and interoperable defence capabilities, avoiding unnecessary duplication, is key in our joint efforts to make the Euro-Atlantic area safer.\u00a0 Such efforts, including recent developments, will lead to a stronger NATO, help enhance our common security, contribute to transatlantic burden sharing, help deliver needed capabilities, and support an overall increase in defence spending.\u00a0 Non-EU Allies continue to make significant contributions to the EU’s efforts to strengthen its capacities to address common security challenges.\u00a0 For the strategic partnership between NATO and the EU, non-EU Allies\u2019 fullest involvement in these efforts is essential.\u00a0 We look forward to mutual steps, representing tangible progress, in this area to support a strengthened strategic partnership.\u00a0 We reaffirm in their entirety all the decisions, principles, and commitments with regard to NATO and EU cooperation.\u00a0 We will continue to further strengthen our strategic partnership in a spirit of full mutual openness, transparency, complementarity, and respect for the organisations\u2019 different mandates, decision-making autonomy and institutional integrity, and as agreed by the two organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n 65.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO-EU cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, with tangible results in countering hybrid and cyber threats, strategic communication, operational cooperation including maritime issues, military mobility, defence capabilities, defence industry and research, exercises, counter-terrorism, and defence and security capacity building.\u00a0 Political dialogue between NATO and the EU remains essential to advance this cooperation.\u00a0 We will continue to develop and deepen our cooperation by fully implementing the common set of 74 proposals, which contribute to the coherence and complementarity of our efforts.\u00a0 The current strategic environment and the COVID pandemic underscore the importance of NATO-EU cooperation in the face of current and evolving security challenges, in particular in addressing resilience issues, emerging and disruptive technologies, the security implications of climate change, disinformation, and the growing geostrategic competition.\u00a0 The ongoing distinct strategic processes within NATO and the EU offer a unique opportunity to intensify further our consultations and cooperation to enhance the security of our citizens and promote peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond, while reaffirming that NATO remains the transatlantic framework for strong collective defence and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions among Allies.\u00a0 We value the Secretary General\u2019s continued close cooperation with the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the High Representative, on all aspects of the NATO-EU strategic partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n 66.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We reaffirm our commitment to NATO\u2019s Open Door Policy under Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, which has been a historic success.\u00a0 North Macedonia\u2019s accession last year is yet another tangible demonstration of this commitment.\u00a0 Successive rounds of enlargement have strengthened Euro-Atlantic security by helping to spread and consolidate the rule of law and democratic institutions and practices across the European continent, and have respected the right of all states to seek their own security arrangements, as enshrined in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe.\u00a0 NATO\u2019s door remains open to all European democracies which share the values of our Alliance, which are willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership, which are in a position to further the principles of the Treaty, and whose inclusion can contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.\u00a0 Decisions on enlargement are for NATO itself; no third party has a say in that process.\u00a0 <\/strong>We remain committed to the integration of those countries that aspire to join the Alliance, judging each on its own merits.\u00a0 We encourage them to continue to implement the necessary reforms and decisions to prepare for membership.\u00a0 We will continue to offer support to their efforts and look to them to take the steps necessary to advance their aspirations.<\/span><\/p>\n 67.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allies strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a stable and secure Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other relevant international agreements, encourage domestic reconciliation, and urge political leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric.\u00a0 We commend Bosnia and Herzegovina, an aspirant country, for its contributions to NATO-led operations.\u00a0 We are committed to maintaining strong political dialogue with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and offer our continued support to the implementation of all reform efforts, including through NATO HQ Sarajevo.\u00a0 We encourage the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take full advantage of the breadth of NATO cooperative security and partnership tools.\u00a0 Allies welcome the work of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO.\u00a0 Allies urge political leaders to work constructively and to demonstrate political will for the benefit of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina in advancing Euro-Atlantic aspirations by implementing the much-needed political, electoral, rule of law, economic, and defence reforms, including through the country\u2019s Reform Programme with NATO, without prejudice to a final decision on NATO membership.<\/span><\/p>\n 68.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions, including that each partner will be judged on its own merits.\u00a0 We stand firm in our support for Georgia\u2019s right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference.\u00a0 As an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Georgia is cooperating closely with the Alliance across a wide range of issues.\u00a0 We highly appreciate Georgia\u2019s substantial contributions to NATO operations, which demonstrate its commitment and capability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security.\u00a0 We welcome the recent political agreement on the Way Ahead for Georgia and encourage its full implementation by all sides.\u00a0 This agreement paves the way for the important reforms which will help Georgia, an aspirant country, progress in its preparations towards membership.\u00a0 We remain committed to making full use of the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Annual National Programme in deepening political dialogue and cooperation.\u00a0 We commend the significant progress on reforms which Georgia has made and must continue to make, and which have helped Georgia strengthen its defence capabilities and interoperability with the Alliance.\u00a0 Georgia\u2019s relationship with the Alliance contains all the practical tools to prepare for eventual membership.\u00a0 We are working closely with Georgia on security in the Black Sea region, in response to Russia\u2019s increasingly destabilising activities, and welcome the steps taken to implement the refreshed Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.\u00a0 We stand ready to enhance our support to Georgia, including in building resilience against hybrid threats, in training and exercises, and in secure communications.\u00a0 We look forward to the next NATO-Georgia exercise in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n 69.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions, including that each partner will be judged on its own merits.\u00a0 We stand firm in our support for Ukraine\u2019s right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference.\u00a0 The Annual National Programmes under the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) remain the mechanism by which Ukraine takes forward the reforms pertaining to its aspiration for NATO membership.\u00a0 Ukraine should make full use of all instruments available under the NUC to reach its objective of implementing NATO principles and standards.\u00a0 The success of wide-ranging, sustainable, and irreversible reforms, including combating corruption, promoting an inclusive political process, and decentralisation reform, based on democratic values, respect for human rights, minorities, and the rule of law, will be crucial in laying the groundwork for a prosperous and peaceful Ukraine.\u00a0 Further reforms in the security sector, including the reform of the Security Services of Ukraine, are particularly important.\u00a0 We welcome significant reforms already made by Ukraine and strongly encourage further progress in line with Ukraine\u2019s international obligations and commitments.\u00a0 We will continue to provide practical support to reform in the security and defence sector, including through the Comprehensive Assistance Package.\u00a0 We will also continue to support Ukraine\u2019s efforts to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats, including through intensifying activities under the NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare.\u00a0 We welcome the cooperation between NATO and Ukraine with regard to security in the Black Sea region.\u00a0 The Enhanced Opportunities Partner status granted last year provides further impetus to our already ambitious cooperation and will promote greater interoperability, with the option of more joint exercises, training, and enhanced situational awareness.\u00a0 Military cooperation and capacity building initiatives between Allies and Ukraine, including the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade, further reinforce this effort.\u00a0 We highly value Ukraine\u2019s significant contributions to Allied operations, the NATO Response Force, and NATO exercises.<\/span><\/p>\n 70.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Western Balkans is a region of strategic importance for NATO, as highlighted by our long history of cooperation and operations.\u00a0 NATO remains strongly committed to the security and stability of the Western Balkans and to supporting the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the countries in the region.\u00a0 We will intensify our efforts in the region and enhance our political dialogue and practical cooperation in order to support reform efforts, promote regional peace and security, and counter the malign influence of outside actors.\u00a0 Democratic values, the rule of law, domestic reforms, and good neighbourly relations are vital for regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration, and we look to continued progress in this regard.\u00a0 We value the NATO-Serbia partnership.\u00a0 Strengthening NATO-Serbia relations would be of benefit to the Alliance, to Serbia, and to the whole region.\u00a0 We support the EU-facilitated Dialogue and other efforts aimed at the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, and urge the sides to seize the moment and engage in good faith towards reaching a lasting political solution.<\/span><\/p>\n 71.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We remain committed to NATO\u2019s continued engagement in Kosovo, including through the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) which contributes to a safe and secure environment and to wider stability in the Western Balkans, and through ongoing capacity building efforts with the Kosovo security organisations.\u00a0 Any changes to our force posture in KFOR remain conditions-based and not calendar-driven.<\/span><\/p>\n 72.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Alliance\u2019s close and mutually beneficial security cooperation with our Enhanced Opportunities Partners Finland and Sweden, which share our values and contribute to NATO-led operations and missions, has grown across a wide range of areas.\u00a0 We will continue to strengthen our ability to respond rapidly and effectively to any common challenges and to work together on enhancing our resilience and civil preparedness.\u00a0 We will bolster our regular and open political dialogue and cooperation in support of our common security, including by crisis management preparation, exercises, and exchanging information and analysis, notably on the security situation in the Baltic Sea region.<\/span><\/p>\n 73.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We will work more closely with all our Western European partners to share expertise, address emerging security challenges, and continue our cooperation on operations, missions, and other initiatives.\u00a0 We will also seek to further develop relations with our partners across the globe.\u00a0 We are enhancing political dialogue and practical cooperation with our long-standing Asia-Pacific partners \u2013 Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea \u2013 to promote cooperative security and support the rules-based international order.\u00a0 We will discuss common approaches to global security challenges where NATO\u2019s interests are affected, share perspectives through deeper political engagement, and seek concrete areas for cooperation to address shared concerns.\u00a0 We are intensifying our interaction with Colombia, NATO\u2019s partner in Latin America, on good governance, military training, interoperability, demining, and maritime security.\u00a0 We remain open to deepening our political dialogue and intensifying our practical cooperation with our partners in Central Asia, taking into account the regional situation.\u00a0 We welcome the interest of other global actors to work with NATO in addressing our shared security concerns and stand ready to explore further engagement on a case-by-case basis.<\/span><\/p>\n 74.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We are committed to enhancing our long-standing engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.\u00a0 We will strengthen our political dialogue and practical cooperation with our Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) partners.\u00a0 This will build stronger security and defence institutions and capacities, promote interoperability, and help to counter terrorism.\u00a0 We have upgraded our defence capacity building assistance to Jordan, our Enhanced Opportunities Partner, to include additional counter-terrorism support, and have contributed to the establishment of the new Military Women\u2019s Training Centre.\u00a0 We will continue our engagement with Tunisia on defence capacity building.\u00a0 We will leverage the NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait as an important hub for education, training, and public diplomacy activities, and we remain open to the potential establishment of other education and training centres with interested MENA countries.\u00a0 Our Regional Hub for the South, in Naples, is making tangible progress in implementing its four functions and contributing to our situational awareness and understanding.\u00a0 We will continue to engage with the African Union and further develop our relations with the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council in order to enhance our ability to better address mutual security concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n 75.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The deteriorating situation in the Sahel region matters to NATO\u2019s collective security.\u00a0 This region is a theatre of complex and interconnected challenges.\u00a0 NATO\u2019s approach to the Sahel is currently focused on our long-standing partnership with Mauritania, and we are looking into providing additional advice and training support.\u00a0 We will also continue to engage in dialogue with relevant NATO partners, representatives from the Sahel region, international and regional organisations and entities such as the African Union, the G5 Sahel structures, the UN, and the EU, as well as with the Coalition for the Sahel.\u00a0 NATO will enhance its engagement with the G5 Sahel structures and remains open, upon request, to consider further engagements in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n 76.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The crisis in Libya has direct implications for regional stability and the security of all Allies.\u00a0 We welcome the progress achieved in Libya, including the recent endorsement of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) and Presidency Council.\u00a0 We commend the UN efforts in support of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, aimed at promoting national reconciliation as well as unifying and strengthening state institutions.\u00a0 We call on all the relevant Libyan authorities and institutions, including the GNU and the House of Representatives, to take actions set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum roadmap and to make the necessary preparations for free, fair, and inclusive national Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24\u00a0December\u00a02021.\u00a0 We fully support the implementation of UNSCRs 2570 and 2571 and the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement.\u00a0 In accordance with our Summit decisions, we remain committed to providing advice to Libya, upon its request, in the area of defence and security institution building, taking into account political and security conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n 77.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NATO is an Alliance that constantly modernises and adapts to new threats and challenges.\u00a0 NATO is also adapting as an institution.\u00a0 To enhance our political-military coherence and situational awareness, we have restructured the activities of the NATO Headquarters, and established a Chief Information Officer function.\u00a0 We welcome and will continue progress towards an optimised NATO intelligence enterprise, better postured to provide timely and relevant support to Alliance operations and decision-making on contemporary and future challenges.\u00a0 We will also further strengthen the security of our cyber and communications systems and continue to protect the Alliance against espionage attempts.\u00a0 We will continuously pursue greater coherence, improved effectiveness, and new efficiencies, in support of the flexibility and responsiveness we need as an Alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n 78.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We express our deep appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to NATO by the Government and the people of Belgium for over five decades, and to us today on the occasion of our Summit meeting at NATO Headquarters.\u00a0 We pay tribute to all the men and women in uniform who continue to work daily for our collective security.\u00a0 And we extend a special word of thanks to all those who made it possible for us to have a safe and productive Summit meeting despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the NATO medical personnel and the Polish Medical Emergency Detachment.<\/span><\/p>\n 79.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With our decisions today, we have opened a new chapter in the transatlantic relationship and set the direction for the Alliance\u2019s continued adaptation towards 2030 and beyond.\u00a0 We look forward to meeting again in Spain in 2022, followed by our next meeting in Lithuania.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n source:https:\/\/nato.cmail19.com\/t\/ViewEmail\/r\/E73A47868F05B0362540EF23F30FEDED\/5B2D38934D53224463B21DE8DA818551<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels 14 June 2021 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We, the Heads of State and … <\/p>\n |
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