NATO Meeting Foreign Ministers 4-5 April

NATO FOREIGN
MINISTERS’ MEETING
4-5 April 2023
Policy Brief
083 SPE 23 E | Original: English | April 2023
This Policy Brief is presented for information only and does not
represent the official view of the Assembly.
Offentligt
NPA Alm.del - Bilag 6
NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2022-23 (2. samling)
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I. FINLAND’S ACCESSION TO NATO
• On the ministerial meeting’s first day and exactly 74 years after NATO’s founding treaty
was signed, Finland became NATO’s 31st Ally when the Finnish Minister of Foreign
Affairs deposited the country’s instrument of accession with the United States at NATO
Headquarters in Brussels. With this, Finland also becomes a full NATO PA member.
• NATO PA President Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam (France) participated in the flag
raising ceremony to mark Finland’s accession, and issued a statement welcoming
Finland’s accession to the NATO PA.
• In his statement with the President of Finland, NATO Secretary General Jens
Stoltenberg emphasised the benefits of Finland’s membership: “It is good for Nordic
security. And it is good for NATO as a whole. Finland brings substantial and highly
capable forces. Expertise in national resilience. And years of experience working side
by side with NATO Allies.”
• On the importance of NATO’s Open Door policy, the Secretary General underlined
that “President Putin wanted to slam NATO’s door shut. Today, we show the world that
he failed. That aggression and intimidation do not work. Instead of less NATO, he has
achieved the opposite. More NATO. And our door remains firmly open.”
II. SWEDEN’S ACCESSION PROCESS
• During his public remarks, the Secretary General repeatedly addressed the issue of
Sweden’s accession process.
• He was “absolutely confident that Sweden will become a member.” He argued that
“Sweden has delivered on the commitments they have made under that trilateral
agreement. So nothing should hinder or be an obstacle for also the final ratification of
also Sweden to become a member. This is a top priority for the Alliance. This is important
for me personally and all Allies agree that we should try to finalise the accession of
also Sweden as soon as possible.” The best way to address the remaining issues was
NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING,
4-5 APRIL 2023:
KEY TAKEAWAYS
NATO Foreign Ministers met in Brussels from 4 to 5 April to welcome Finland as NATO’s
31st
Ally as well as to prepare for the upcoming NATO Summit of Heads of Government
and State, which will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania from 11 to 12 July 2023.
Agenda
• Finland’s and Sweden’s accession
• Increasing support for Ukraine
• Threats and challenges from the south
• Increased defence investment
• China’s growing alignment with Russia
• Global consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine
Decisions
• Ministers agreed to begin developing a strategic multi-year assistance
programme for Ukraine.
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to “sit down, meet, consult and find a way forward”. “Türkiye has some legitimate
security concerns and all Allies should address them”, he noted.
• In the meantime, with Finland’s membership, Sweden is also safer and is “not left
alone”. “Sweden is very much inside NATO, integrating into military civilian structures.
Allies are ready to act and it's inconceivable that there was any, that there were
going to be any threats or military attacks against Sweden without NATO reacting
and even more so with Finland as a full member.”
III. INCREASING SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE IN THE FACE OF RUSSIA’S WAR
• Foreign Ministers discussed how Allies and NATO can step up the already
unprecedented levels of support to Ukraine (almost EUR 150 billion, including c.
EUR 65 billion in military support).
• On the first day of the meeting, the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) came together
at the level of Foreign Ministers – the first time a NUC has been held above
Ambassadorial level since 2018.
• While Ukraine’s urgent short-term provision of support was discussed, Ministers began
discussions on the provision of long-term support and agreed to begin
developing a strategic multi-year assistance programme.
• Such a programme would demonstrate that the Alliance is “united in our determination
to stay the course,” the Secretary General noted, as well as to “support Ukraine for as
long as it takes”. President Putin “thinks Russia can outlast our support. Our meeting
today underscored NATO’s enduring commitment to Ukraine”, he said.
• Ministers discussed how a long-term partnership could help Ukraine “move
closer to NATO”, in the words of the Secretary General. This would include increased
assistance with:
o strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces;
o transition from Soviet-era to NATO equipment, standards and doctrines;
o interoperability between Ukrainian and NATO armed forces; and
o continued reforms, notably on fighting corruption.
• Several Allies increased their contribution to the Comprehensive Assistance
Package ahead or at the meeting, and further increases are expected in the near
future.
• The Secretary General also argued that “we will need to put in place arrangements
so that Ukraine can deter future aggression. And history does not repeat itself. We
cannot allow Russia to continue to chip away at European security.” According to him,
“This includes strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces and arrangements for Ukraine’s
security.”
Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration
• During the Secretary General’s press engagements, he was repeatedly asked about the
next steps in Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
• He underlined that Allies’ first priority was to preserve the sovereignty and
independence of Ukraine: “Because without Ukraine prevailing as a sovereign
independent nation then, of course, the whole issue of membership will not be
relevant.” The second priority was to discuss how the Alliance can “develop our
political relationship with Ukraine”. The Secretary General pointed out that NATO’s
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longer-term assistance - outlined above - “helps to move Ukraine closer to Euro-Atlantic
integration, to the NATO family”.
• He also underlined that:
o “it is extremely important to continue to demonstrate that NATO's door
remains open”;
o “Ukraine’s future is in the Euro-Atlantic family” and
o “NATO's position remains unchanged, and that is that Ukraine will
become a member of the Alliance.”
Russia’s announcement regarding the stationing of dual-capable and nuclear weapons
systems in Belarus
• During his press conferences, the Secretary General was asked about President
Putin’s announcement that he has sent dual-capable Iskander missile systems to
Belarus and plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in the country.
• The Secretary General noted that the announcement “is part of a pattern of dangerous
reckless nuclear rhetoric” in an attempt “to stop NATO Allies and partners for
supporting Ukraine in their right to defend their own country”. However, Allies “will not
be intimidated” and “will continue to support Ukraine”.
• He also noted that “we continue to monitor what Russia does also when it comes to any
potential deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus.” Until now, “we haven't seen any
changes in their nuclear posture that requires any change in our nuclear posture.”
• He also said that “Belarus has been, and continues to be[,] a platform which Russia uses
in its aggressive actions against Ukraine.” He added that “[o]ur message to Belarus is,
of course, that they should not be directly involved […].”
Additional point
• The Secretary General welcomed President Zelensky’s 10-point Peace Plan, as it
“upholds the principles at the heart of the UN Charter” and “provides the foundation for
a just and sustainable peace.”
IV. THREATS AND CHALLENGES FROM THE SOUTH
• Foreign Ministers also discussed threats and challenges in the South, notably
instability, terrorism and the growing influence of Iran, Russia and China.
• The Secretary General stressed that NATO and Allies continue to work with
partners in the Middle East and North Africa. He noted, in particular, the importance
of stability, including in Iraq where NATO has a non-combat advisory and capacity-
building mission; of addressing the root causes of Europe’s migrant challenges; and of
working together with partners Mauritania and Tunisia.
V. INCREASED DEFENCE INVESTMENT
• Foreign Ministers also discussed increasing Allied defence investment.
• The Secretary General was confident that Allies would agree, at the Vilnius
Summit, “to have a more ambitious defence investment pledge where we regard
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2% of GDP for defence not as ceiling but as a floor, a minimum that we need to
spend more in a more dangerous world on our security.”
• When asked to expand during a press conference, he argued that the 2% pledge “has
been interpreted by many Allies as something that is more like a ceiling” or
“something we should strive towards, not a kind of requirement”. “[M]uch stronger
language” needed to be agreed upon in Vilnius, he stressed.
VI. CHINA’S GROWING ALIGNMENT WITH RUSSIA
• Foreign Ministers also discussed China’s growing alignment with Russia.
• During the press conferences, the Secretary General pointed out that “China refuses to
condemn Russia’s aggression. It echoes Russian propaganda. And it props up Russia’s
economy. China and Russia are also stepping up their joint military activities in the Indo-
Pacific region.”
• He also made it clear that “[a]ny provision of lethal aid by China to Russia would
be a major mistake.” However, he noted that “we have not been able to confirm any
provision of lethal aid, but this is something we follow very closely. And we also
communicate very clearly that this will be a big mistake.”
• NATO’s efforts on resilience on technology “is also a way to respond to the challenges
that China poses to our security”, he emphasised.
VII. GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES OF RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE
• Foreign Ministers held a meeting with NATO’s Indo-Pacific partners (Australia,
Japan, New Zealand and South Korea), together with the European Union, where they
discussed the global consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
• As the Secretary General noted, “[a]t a time when Russia and China are challenging
the international order and democratic values, it is even more important that we
stand together as NATO Allies. And with like-minded partners.” He added that
“NATO is committed to working with like-minded partners across the globe to
tackle global challenges, uphold the rules-based international order, and preserve
peace”.
• When the Secretary General opened the meeting, he underlined that “what happens in
the Indo-Pacific matters for Europe. And what happens in Europe matters for [the
Indo-Pacific].” He added that “what is happening in Europe today could happen in East
Asia tomorrow”.
• The Heads of State and Government of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and
South Korea have all been invited to the NATO Summit in Vilnius.
• The Secretary General had a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Japan. Japan
has recently announced that it would contribute to the Comprehensive Assistance
Package for Ukraine and will open a dedicated diplomatic mission to NATO.
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