Pre-Summit press conference, nato.int

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:

Our NATO Summit in Madrid this week will be transformative.
With many important decisions. Including on a new Strategic Concept for a new security reality.
A fundamental shift in NATO’s deterrence and defence. And support to Ukraine now, and for the future.Our new Concept will guide us in an era of strategic competition.

I expect it will make clear that Allies consider Russia as the most significant and direct threat to our security. It will address China for the first time. And the challenges that Beijing poses to our security, interests, and values.

We will enhance our battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance up to brigade-levels.

We will transform the NATO Response Force. And increase the number of our high readiness forces.
To well over 300,000. […]

Nine Allies now reach – or exceed – the 2% target.  Nineteen Allies have clear plans to reach it by 2024.
And an additional five have concrete commitments to meet it thereafter. Two percent is increasingly considered a floor, not a ceiling. […]

We also aim to make progress on Finland and Sweden’s historic applications for NATO membership.
While ensuring the security concerns of all Allies are addressed. I spoke with President Erdogan on Saturday, and will meet with Prime Minister Andersson later today.

I am glad that President Erdogan, President Niinisto, and Prime Minister Andersson have accepted my invitation to meet in Madrid tomorrow. And today, we are hosting another meeting of senior officials from all three countries here at NATO Headquarters. Läs presskonferensen