NATO’s Defence Ministers will meet by videoconference on Tuesday 1 June to discuss Afghanistan, developments in Belarus and Ukraine and the future of the Atlantic Alliance 2030.
Ministers are expected to discuss the way forward for future allied engagement in Afghanistan, following the expected withdrawal of allied troops in September. Speaking to the media, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained that even if the Allies end their military presence, they will increase their assistance in other ways. Mr Stoltenberg cited, in particular, civilian support for capacity building, funding for and the training of Afghan security forces, and how to secure critical infrastructure such as airports.
The meeting will then focus on developments in Ukraine and Belarus. NATO has strongly condemned the hijacking of an airliner and the subsequent arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich and his fiancée. Mr Stoltenberg announced, on Monday 31 May, that NATO had restricted access to NATO headquarters to Belarusian diplomats. Belarus has had a diplomatic mission to NATO since 1998.
The discussion also comes as Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced, on the same day, that his country will deploy some 20 military formations and units near its western borders by the end of 2021 in response to NATO initiatives.
Lastly, the ministers will prepare the NATO summit on 14 June and will discuss the future of the Alliance up to 2030. At their summit, leaders are expected to adopt a declaration on NATO 2030.
“Over the past months, the Allies have consulted closely and constructively. We still have work to do, but we all agree that we need to take ambitious and forward-looking decisions”, explained Mr Stoltenberg.
Several Allies have expressed reservations about Mr Stoltenberg’s ambitions, including his own home country, Norway. Prime Minister Erna Solberg has warned that her country opposes some of NATO’s proposed reforms, including one to work on climate change. She also questioned the need for NATO to play a role in discussions on China’s military activity. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)