NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2020-21
NPA Alm.del Bilag 1
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NATO DEFENCE
MINISTERS’ MEETING,
22-23 OCTOBER 2020
Policy Brief
169 SPE 20 E | Original: English | October 2020
This Policy Brief is presented for information only and does not
represent the official view of the Assembly.
 NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 1: NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting October 2020 Policy Brief
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169 SPE 20 E
NATO DEFENCE
MINISTERS’ MEETING,
22-23 OCTOBER 2020:
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Agenda
•
Strengthening Allied
deterrence and defence
•
Boosting the
resilience
of NATO member
states’
societies
•
Fairer
burden-sharing
•
NATO missions in
Afghanistan
and
Iraq
Decisions
•
Creation of a NATO Space Centre
in Ramstein, Germany
•
Expansion of the NATO training mission in Iraq
–
details to be presented in February 2021
Other discussion themes
•
The situation in
the Eastern Mediterranean region.
•
20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on
Women, Peace
and Security
I.
COMMITMENT TO DETERRENCE AND DEFENCE
DECISIONS
•
Ministers agreed on the:
o
creation of a NATO Space Centre
at Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany, tasked with:
▪
coordination
of Allied space activities;
▪
support
of NATO missions and operations from space, including with communications and
satellite imagery; and
▪
protection
of Allied space systems by sharing information about potential threats.
BACKGROUND
•
•
•
•
•
The Secretary General stressed that “our
aim is not to militarise space. But to increase NATO’s
awareness of challenges in space.”
Secretary General Stoltenberg also noted that “What
happens in space is of great importance for what
we can do on the Earth
[…].
So this is important for our civilian societies, but also, of course, for military
capabilities.”
Russia and China are developing capabilities that can blind or destroy satellites.
As Allies’ space capabilities vary, increased Allied coordination will strengthen the Alliance.
The number of personnel will be limited in the beginning but an expansion is planned going forward.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
•
•
•
•
•
The Ministers assessed progress on their comprehensive response package of political and military
measures to strengthen Alliance deterrence.
In response to the growing Russian missile challenge, NATO continues to improve air and missile
defences, and Allies are acquiring new systems, including Patriot and SAMP/T batteries.
Allies are strengthening their advanced conventional capabilities, investing into new platforms, e.g. fifth-
generation fighter aircraft, and adapting intelligence gathering and exercises.
Allies keep the nuclear deterrent safe, secure, and effective, incl. through the annual exercises.
Ministers discussed nuclear arms control, incl. with US Ambassador Marshall S. Billingslea, Special
Presidential Envoy for Arms Control. The Secretary General stressed that NATO remains fully
committed to arms control and disarmament. Allies support the extension of the bilateral US-Russian
New START agreement and welcomed progress on bilateral talks in recent days. The Secretary
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169 SPE 20 E
General welcomed that the United States is closely consulting with NATO Allies on the issue of nuclear
arms control in general and on New START in particular. Extension of New START provides more time
to address other important issues not covered by the agreement and engage with China on arms
control.
II.
BOOSTING RESILIENCE OF NATO MEMBER STATES’ SOCIETIES
DECISIONS
o
Ministers agreed to strengthen the resilience pledge when NATO leaders meet next year.
BACKGROUND
•
Ministers discussed the importance of national resilience and a report on the state of critical
infrastructure, including ports and airports, supplies of fuel, food and medical equipment, and
telecommunications, including 5G.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
•
•
•
•
•
The
Secretary General underlined that resilience underpins NATO’s ability to defend itself: “we
cannot
have strong armies without strong societies”.
NATO is playing an important role on national resilience, incl. by setting minimum standards. NATO
has updated the baseline requirements for national resilience.
Progress has been made but vulnerabilities remain, incl. with respect to foreign control of the critical
infrastructure upon which Allied societies and militaries rely.
NATO is also increasing its support to civilian efforts coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout October and November 2020, Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are receiving
dozens of ventilators and a total of about EUR 1.5 Million in medical supplies from the stockpile.
BACKGROUND
•
•
•
•
Countries like China are investing aggressively in ports and airports, and Allied telecommunication
networks remain vulnerable to attacks from the outside, and being compromised from the inside.
NATO’s military leadership warn
the Russian navy is aggressively probing undersea communications
cable networks, transmitting the vast majority of global communications data and telecommunications.
Most cables are privately owned and most locations are publicly known, increasing vulnerability. The
new Atlantic Command in Norfolk, USA is tasked to evaluate the threat and countermeasures.
NATO militaries continue to play a crucial role in supporting national civilian efforts to cope with the
pandemic. NATO has an Operational Plan for assisting Allies with the COVID-19 pandemic and has
established a financial mechanism to fund support. Allies are helping one another by, for instance,
setting up field hospitals and transporting patients.
NATO coordinates the transportation of equipment, patients, and other material through the Euro-
Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). NATO has also provided support to
partners like Afghanistan and Tunisia, and additional efforts are undertaken through different NATO
mechanisms and bilateral assistance.
For more information and concrete examples of bilateral and NATO assistance to Allies, see the NATO
factsheet
NATO’s Response to the COVID-19
Pandemic.
FAIRER BURDEN SHARING
•
•
III.
DECISIONS
•
Ministers discussed progress toward fairer burden sharing across the Alliance.
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169 SPE 20 E
BACKGROUND
•
The
defence spending estimates for 2020
show a real increase of 4.3%, marking the sixth consecutive
year of increased defence spending by European Allies and Canada.
•
Allies are also investing in major new capabilities.
“A
majority of Allies now invest 20% or more of
defence spending in this area”,
according to Secretary General Stoltenberg.
IV.
NATO MISSIONS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ
DECISIONS
•
Ministers agreed to expand the NATO mission in Iraq and tasked military commanders to prepare
concrete plans for the next Defence Ministerial in February 2021, in close coordination with the Iraqi
government.
DISCUSSIONS
•
•
Ministers discussed
NATO missions and operations,
notably in Afghanistan and Iraq, which have
received COVID-19 assistance after requests made through NATO.
Afghanistan:
o
o
NATO backs the peace talks in Doha. While fragile, these Afghan-owned talks are the best
chance for peace in a generation.
Allies have adjusted/reduced their presence in Afghanistan to support the peace process, but
future adjustments are conditional. Conditions include the reduction of violence by the Taliban
and breaking their ties with Al Qaeda. Also, the gains made over the last two decades, especially
with regard to women rights, must be preserved.
Ministers will continue to assess the situation in Afghanistan to determine future presence. The
Secretary General stressed Allies do not want to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary, but
also the importance of not leaving too early, to avoid the country once again becoming a safe
haven for international terrorism.
Recently, Allies and partners renewed their commitment to provide financial support to the Afghan
forces through 2024.
o
o
•
Iraq:
o
The Secretary General expressed concern about the rise in the number and sophistication of
attacks against the international presence in Iraq.
o
The Secretary General noted that the NATO mission, significantly reduced in the beginning of the
year due to the COVID-19 crisis, is now restored to its earlier size of about 500 personnel.
o
Ministers reiterated the commitment to consult with the Global Coalition and the Iraqi authorities.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
•
The aim
of NATO’s mission in Iraq
is to help build self-sustaining Iraqi forces able to fight terrorism and
stabilise their country. The Secretary General noted that the new mission
will be “significantly larger”
than the current training mission.
OTHER DISCUSSION THEMES
The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean
V.
•
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169 SPE 20 E
o
The Secretary General welcomed the announcement by Greece and Turkey to cancel their
respective military exercises, planned for the upcoming week, which will help de-escalate the
situation and avoid unintended incidents.
Ministers also expressed strong support for the NATO de-confliction mechanism to avoid
incidents and accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean. The mechanism might pave the way for
progress in exploratory talks under German auspices to resolve the underlying disputes, the
Secretary General noted. A resolution should happen at the political level, he said:
“we
should
not place it solely on the shoulders of the captains of our ships or the pilots of our jets.”
NATO also offers a 24/7
hotline between Greece and Turkey using NATO’s secure
communication systems.
o
o
•
The 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women,
Peace and Security
o
Ministers discussed the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution
1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
o
Ministers assessed what NATO has done to put this agenda into practice and what more need to
be done.
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