NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2020-21
NPA Alm.del Bilag 19
Offentligt
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NATO FOREIGN AND
DEFENCE
MINISTERS’
MEETING
1 June 2021
Policy Brief
094SPE 21 E | Original: English | June 2021
This Policy Brief is presented for information only and does not
represent the official view of the Assembly.
 NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 19: NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting 1 June - Policy Brief
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094 SPE 21 E
NATO FOREIGN AND DEFENCE
MINISTERS’ MEETING,
1 JUNE 2021
Main Issues Discussed
•
•
Preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit & NATO 2030
Afghanistan: NATO’s
continuing support
Key Takeaways
•
•
•
•
NATO 2030
will be at the centre of the
14 June Summit in Brussels.
NATO 2030 decisions at the Summit fall into
three principal themes:
1)
Reinforced Unity,
2)
A Broader Approach to Security
and 3)
Safeguarding the Rules-based International Order.
Broad agreement existed to start work on
NATO’s
next Strategic Concept
to reflect the current
strategic environment.
Continued structured support for
Afghanistan’s
security forces, government and people
remains the best way to support peace after
NATO’s
Resolute Support
mission comes to an end.
Ministers also:
•
Endorsed a new
Policy on Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
(CRSV).
•
Reaffirmed their condemnation of Belarus’ forced landing of a civilian airflight.
Additional notes
•
For Allied foreign and defence ministers, the virtual meeting was the
final opportunity to
collectively consult and coordinate before the NATO Summit.
•
Ministers also
discussed the broader challenges posed by Russia and China
in an era of
increasing global competition.
I.
•
PREPARATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING NATO SUMMIT & NATO 2030
NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers
met separately in an online format.
It was their
final
opportunity to collectively consult and coordinate positions prior to the 14 June Summit in
Brussels,
which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called
“a
pivotal moment for our Alliance,
and our collective security.”
The NATO 2030 initiative,
which will prepare the Alliance for the future,
will be at the heart of the
Brussels Summit.
There was
broad consensus on the need to take ambitious Summit decisions.
As NATO Secretary
General Stoltenberg stressed, this will demonstrate "that
Europe and North America stand together in
an age of global competition. And that we need to show transatlantic unity not just in words, but also in
deeds.”
NATO 2030 decisions at the Summit fall into
three principal themes:
1)
Reinforced Unity,
2)
A
Broader Approach to Security
and 3)
Safeguarding the Rules-based International Order.
•
•
•
REINFORCED UNITY
•
•
NATO remains the unique and indispensable forum for transatlantic coordination, and Allies will ensure
more frequent consultation on all issues affecting Alliance security.
Allies will
strengthen commitment to collective defence.
Among others, they plan to
reaffirm the
2014 defence investment pledge
–
building on seven years of consecutive increases in defence
spending - and
fully implement all decisions taken to strengthen NATO’s posture.
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094 SPE 21 E
•
There is broad agreement that Allies must start work on
NATO’s next Strategic Concept.
It will take
into account the more unpredictable and more contested strategic environment since 2010, when the
current Concept was adopted. Moreover, it will reflect NATO’s adaptation since 2014
–
the biggest
adaptation in a generation.
A BROADER APPROACH TO SECURITY
•
The Alliance will
raise NATO’s level of ambition
on
resilience.
Allies will seek a
more integrated and
coordinated approach to protect critical infrastructure
and aim to
make societies in the Alliance
less vulnerable to attack and coercion.
In this context, the Secretary General welcomed
Romania’s
proposal for a Euro-Atlantic Centre for Resilience, which will include a clear focus on NATO-EU
cooperation.
Allies will also take decisions to
sharpen NATO’s technological edge,
maintain interoperability,
respond to emerging disruptive technologies and prevent technology gaps among Allies.
The
Alliance will decide on the creation of a
Defence Innovation Accelerator.
The structure, governance
and location are yet to be determined.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted it would be “a
new centre to foster greater cooperation among Allies on technology, underpinned with extra funding
from nations that decide to participate.”
Allies will also address the
security implications of climate change.
The Secretary General noted
the Alliance will “set
the gold standard when it comes to understanding and mitigating the security
implications of climate change.”
He pointed to
three key means: first, via
increased monitoring and
tracking of climate change
to better understand its potential impact on Allied security; second, through
adapting to operate in all conditions,
including extreme heat and cold as well as be able to adapt to
rising sea levels and more extreme weather; and third, by
playing its part in reducing military
emissions.
•
•
SAFEGUARDING THE RULES-BASED INTERNATIONAL ORDER
•
Allies will recommit to safeguard the rules-based international order. They will do so by:
a)
defending Allied values and interests,
b)
deepening partnerships
with like-minded partners and
forging new ones in the Asia-Pacific
region, Africa, and Latin America,
and;
c)
stepping up training and capacity-building
for partners.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Increasing NATO common funding for deterrence and defence activities
•
Earlier in 2021, the NATO Secretary General had recommended to Ministers
to increase NATO’s
common funding,
including for contributions to cover costs when Allies deploy troops for defence and
deterrence activities. At the press conferences during the ministerial meeting, he said
“there
is broad
consensus, that we should invest more together.”
He argued that
“We
need to spend more. But we also need to spend more together. Therefore,
Allies
should invest more together.
Because
pooling our resources is a force multiplier. A more
effective way to boost our common security.
And it
sends a powerful message of unity and
resolve
–
both to our own people, and to any potential adversary.”
He added that “increased
common funding is a way to
provide more resources, higher readiness of
our forces, more exercises, investment in infrastructure, prepositioned equipment and also
working with partners.”
•
•
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Allied consensus on China:
•
Asked
about the London Summit’s declaration that China presents both opportunities and challenges
for the Alliance and specifically Allies’ consensus on the challenges, NATO Secretary General
Stoltenberg noted:
“
I'm confident that when NATO leaders meet in a couple of weeks here in Brussels,
they will agree [on] a NATO 2030 agenda which will also reflect the
increased awareness and a
higher degree of common understanding of the convergence of positions
when it comes to the
challenges posed by China and increased global competition which matters for us in this region in North
America and in Europe.”
NATO’s Open Door Policy
•
Asked about prospects for further decisions on future enlargements at the Summit, NATO Secretary
General Stoltenberg put the emphasis on
the importance for aspirants to continue with important
reforms.
He noted:
“Our
message is that the focus should be on
reforms to modernise the defence
and security institutions because we believe that that's the best way to move towards further
Euro-Atlantic integration.
But we also strongly believe that
reforms to modernise defence and
security institutions is also an aim in itself.
And we continue to provide support, we help with these
reforms programmes and we will, of course, continue to do that. And I expect that also, heads of state
and government will recommit to continue to provide support to these highly valued partner nations of
NATO [Georgia and Ukraine].”
II.
•
•
•
AFGHANISTAN
– NATO’S CONTINUING SUPPORT
The Ministers discussed
NATO’s
continuing support to Afghanistan
and the
withdrawal of Allied
and partner forces
which began on 1 May 2021.
The drawdown of forces continues progressing in
an orderly and coordinated
way, with the safety of
personnel at the heart of the process.
While NATO and partners are ending their military presence, Ministers discussed the opening of a new
chapter in the Alliance’s relationship with Afghanistan.
Allies agreed that NATO’s
future support for
Afghanistan will consist of three main pillars:
o
NATO will maintain a civilian presence in Kabul
to allow for the continuation of diplomatic
engagement. The presence will also enable NATO to provide advice and capacity-building
support to the Afghan security institutions and to administer continued financial support.
o
NATO will
continue military education and training outside of Afghanistan.
Allies will focus
on the Afghan Special Operations Forces.
o
NATO intends to
fund the provision of services enabling NATO Allies and the broader
international community to continue their operations in Kabul.
According to the Secretary
General, this includes vital infrastructure, such as a functioning and secure international airport.
As Defence Ministers noted,
the continuation of Allied collective support for the Afghan security
forces, the Afghan government and the Afghan people is the best way to contribute to peace
efforts.
NATO POLICY ON PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO CONFLICT-RELATED SEXUAL
VIOLENCE
Defence Ministers endorsed a new
policy on preventing and responding to Conflict-Related Sexual
Violence (CRSV).
The policy outlines
specific actions to prevent and respond to such violence in
all NATO operations, missions, and mandated activities by the North Atlantic Council.
Moreover,
it underscores
NATO’s support for the international community’s efforts to end impunity for this
crime.
•
III.
•
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094 SPE 21 E
IV.
•
BELARUS
–
FORCED LANDING OF CIVILIAN AIRFLIGHT
While the North Atlantic Council had already issued a
strong statement on 26 May,
Ministers also
discussed
developments in Belarus after the forced landing of a civilian aircraft
on its way from
one Allied nation to another on 23 May.
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg noted that
“We
have strongly condemned the
serious violation
by Belarus of the norms of international civil aviation, and the fundamental right of the freedom
to the speech
[sic]. And I
welcome sanctions by NATO Allies, and the European Union.”
He went
on to say,
“This
shows the importance of like-minded countries standing together.”
Based on
assessment of security measures at the headquarters,
“we
have decided to restrict the access of
Belarussian personnel to the NATO headquarters,”
the Secretary General said.
•
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