Policy Brief NATO MFA Meeting

NATO FOREIGN
MINISTERS’ MEETING
28-29 November 2023
Policy Brief
199 SPE 23 E | Original: English | November 2023
This Policy Brief is presented for information only and does not
represent the official view of the Assembly.
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NPA Alm.del - Bilag 2
NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2023-24
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I. SUPPORTING UKRAINE’S DEFENCE EFFORT AND REFORMS
• The NATO-Ukraine Council, meeting for the first time at Foreign Ministers’ level on 29
November, adopted a statement reaffirming Allies and Ukraine’s determination to “act
together to further deepen the NATO-Ukraine relationship”.
• Foreign Ministers reiterated their steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine “for as
long as it takes”, as Ukraine fights for its sovereignty and “territorial integrity within its
internationally recognised borders”.
• Ministers took stock of the implementation of the expanded support package agreed
at the Vilnius Summit. They endorsed the NUC substructure and an ambitious work
programme for 2024, noting that within NUC, Allies and Ukraine are already taking
decisions together as equals.
• More specifically, within the NUC, Allies and Ukraine are working “on a broad range of
issues, including interoperability, energy security, innovation, cyber defence, and
NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING,
28-29 NOVEMBER 2023:
KEY TAKEAWAYS
NATO Foreign Ministers met in Brussels from 28 to 29 November to discuss the further
strengthening of NATO’s defence and deterrence, to advance Allied support for Ukraine,
to assess the impact of the war in the Middle East as well as to exchange on priorities for
the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. in July 2024. On 28 November, NATO
Foreign ministers held a joint session with the European Union’s High Representative for
Foreign and Security Policy to discuss the situation in the Western Balkans. The NATO-
Ukraine Council (NUC) met for the first time at Foreign ministers’ level on 29 November
and issued a joint statement.
Agenda
• Enhancing Ukraine’s military capabilities and supporting reforms
• Strengthening defence and deterrence
• Challenges emanating from the southern neighbourhood and the situation in
the Middle East
• China’s challenge to Allied security and values
• Situation in the Western Balkans
• Swedish membership in NATO
Additional issue
• Russia’s use of migration against Finland
Decisions
• Ministers endorsed the NUC substructure and an ambitious work programme
with Ukraine for 2024. Allies provided Ukraine with recommendations for
priority reforms.
• Allies approved NATO’s first-ever quantum strategy aiming to strengthen NATO
cyber security.
• It was announced that Allies recently decided to upgrade NATO’s AWACS fleet
– one of the Alliance’s biggest-ever capability purchases.
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resilience.” The NUC is also being used as a crisis consultation mechanism.
The Alliance is committed to continue providing non-lethal support to Ukraine.
• As agreed in Vilnius, work is underway to transform the Comprehensive Assistance
Package into a multi-year programme to support the Ukrainian security and defence
sector in the long term. This includes developing a roadmap for Ukraine’s transition
to full interoperability with NATO. Allies are also developing new projects on
humanitarian demining, medical rehabilitation, and Ukraine’s defence industrial
capacity.
• Individual NATO Allies continue providing unprecedented support to Ukraine’s
defence effort. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg singled out the recent decisions
by Germany and The Netherlands to pledge 8 and 2 billion euros respectively in
support for Ukraine in 2024. He also highlighted the opening of an F-16 training
centre for Ukrainian pilots in Romania, the deliveries of additional air defences and
ammunition from Allies including the US and Finland, as well as the establishment of
an air defence coalition for Ukraine, which includes 20 Allies.
• With regard to Ukraine’s NATO integration, Allies reiterated support for Ukraine as it
conducts reforms “on its path towards future membership in NATO”. Ministers
welcomed the presentation of Ukraine’s adapted Annual National Programme for
2024 and committed to regularly assess progress in implementing it.
• Importantly, Allies have provided Ukraine with recommendations for priority reforms,
including fighting corruption, strengthening the rule of law, human rights and minority
rights. This echoes the text of Resolution 487, adopted at the recent NATO PA
Annual session in Copenhagen, urging Allies, inter alia, to “define clearly the reforms
to be implemented by Ukraine to meet the conditions for NATO membership referred
to in the Vilnius Summit Communiqué” as well as to “pro-actively use NATO-Ukraine
partnership mechanisms, including the NATO-Ukraine Council, to help Ukraine meet
the conditions for membership as soon as possible”. The Secretary General said he was
impressed by Ukraine’s ability to conduct reforms, including on anti-corruption,
despite the war.
• It is notable that, during his statements, the Secretary General repeatedly stressed that
Ukraine “prevailed as a sovereign independent nation”, it was able to liberate 50%
of the territories seized by Russia and is inflicting “major losses on Russia”. He
contrasted this with Russia’s failures, and noted that Russia “is now weaker
politically, militarily, and economically”, as it lost “a substantial part of its
conventional forces” and sustained “more than 300,000 casualties”. Russia is also losing
its global and regional influence, it is increasingly dependent on China, its oil and gas
revenues are dropping and some 1.3 million people left Russia last year. Yet, the
Secretary General cautioned not to underestimate the Russian threat as “Russia’s
economy is on a war footing” and “Putin has a high tolerance for casualties”.
Russia has amassed a large missile stockpile and is bound to strike Ukraine’s
energy infrastructure this winter, he warned.
II. NATO DEFENCE AND DETERRENCE
• Foreign Ministers addressed the importance of technological innovation and approved
NATO’s first-ever quantum strategy. The Secretary General stressed that quantum
technologies can strengthen Allied cyber security, but they can also be misused by
malign actors. The new NATO strategy aims to help Allies to seize the opportunities
presented by these technologies, “while preventing competitors from using these
technologies against us”, Mr Stoltenberg said.
• The Secretary General also announced that, earlier this month, Allies agreed to
upgrade NATO’s AWACS fleet with six new Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, expected
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to be produced and enter service by 2031. This project is one of NATO’s biggest-ever
capability purchases and it will contribute substantially to Allied integrated air and
missile defence. Mr Stoltenberg stressed that this project “shows the strength of
transatlantic defence cooperation” as well as “demonstrates how NATO adds value
by pooling resources to deliver major new capabilities for our security”.
• Ahead of the meeting for Foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
said that Allied representatives “will be looking to the summit next year in Washington
to celebrate the 75th
anniversary of NATO,” but also “to carry the Alliance forward,
including with the commitments that its members are making to our collective defence.”
III. THREATS AND CHALLENGES FROM THE SOUTH – SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE
EAST
• Foreign ministers discussed challenges emanating from NATO’s southern
neighbourhood. The Secretary General stressed that he has appointed an
independent group of experts to review NATO’s approach to southern partners.
They will submit recommendations by next spring, focusing on what more NATO can
do to prevent crises, fight terrorism, and enhance stability in the southern
neighbourhood.
• Allies expressed concern about the war in the Middle East. The Secretary General
welcomed the extension of the pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, which
has allowed the release of more hostages, and the delivery of more humanitarian aid to
Gaza. He called for a further extension of the pause.
• The Secretary General stressed that NATO as an organisation does not play a direct
role in the Israel-Palestine conflict, but some Allies are active in different ways.
However, NATO is present in the wider Middle East region, including through a
training mission in Iraq and close partnerships with many countries in the MENA and
Gulf regions. He emphasised NATO’s message that this conflict should not escalate
to a bigger regional conflict and urged Iran to “rein in its proxies" after a series of
strikes against US forces in Iraq and Syria.
IV. RESPONDING TO CHALLENGES POSED BY CHINA
• Foreign Ministers also addressed the challenges that China presents to Euro-
Atlantic security. The Secretary General stressed that “China is not our adversary”,
and welcomed the recent discussions with Beijing on issues of mutual concern,
including climate change and arms control.
• However, the Secretary General noted that Beijing’s actions challenge Allied
security. He expressed concern that “China is heavily modernizing their armed
forces”, coerces neighbours, collaborates with Russia, invests heavily in new
disruptive technologies and demonstrates disregard for human rights. He stressed
that Allies “must work together to respond” and noted as an example NATO’s efforts
over the last years to maintain its technological edge, including through a new
innovation fund and a network of centres to develop technology. He expected the
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Alliance's China strategy to be further elaborated at the upcoming summit in
Washington, D.C.
• Mr Stoltenberg stressed the need to work more closely with partners the
Indo-Pacific, particularly Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, “to
stand up for our values and interests”.
V. THE WESTERN BALKANS
• Foreign Ministers discussed the evolving security situation in the Western
Balkans in a joint meeting with the EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep
Borrell.
• The Secretary General condemned the acts of violence in Kosovo earlier this year.
He highlighted the importance for all sides to de-escalate and to refrain from
inflammatory rhetoric. The Secretary General stressed that he repeated this message
during his recent meetings in Pristina and in Belgrade, calling both sides to engage in
good faith in the EU-facilitated dialogue.
• Mr Stoltenberg and Mr Borrell stressed the importance of the cooperation between the
European Union and NATO in Kosovo, including the north of Kosovo. The EU is in
charge of the diplomatic efforts, while NATO has increased its presence by adding some
1,000 troops to KFOR, which is now roughly 5,000-strong. According to the Secretary
General, NATO is “examining a more enduring increase of our peacekeeping
contingent” in Kosovo.
• The Secretary General also expressed concern about divisive and secessionist
rhetoric in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stressed that “we cannot allow a security
vacuum in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, and reiterated NATO’s commitment to
support the EU’s EUFOR Althea mission, including through NATO’s military
headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He welcomed the renewal of the UN mandate
for EUFOR Althea.
VI. SWEDEN’S ACCESSION PROCESS
• Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström participated in the NATO Foreign
ministerial as an Invitee.
• The Secretary General said that Allied ministers “had a good discussion” on the Swedish
accession process that they supported the finalisation of ratification “as soon as
possible”. He welcomed that President Erdoğan has submitted the papers for
ratification to the Turkish parliament, and that the parliamentary foreign relations
committee has started the deliberations on that document. He noted that the very fact
that President Erdoğan submitted the necessary papers for ratification, as agreed in
Vilnius, implied that “he actually recommended ratification”.
• The Secretary General reiterated that Türkiye has legitimate security concerns that
need to be addressed. But he also stressed that Sweden has delivered on what it
promised, including stepping up intelligence cooperation with Türkiye and removing
restrictions on arms exports. He emphasised that Sweden’s membership “will be
good for all NATO Allies”.
VII. RUSSIA’S USE OF MIGRANTS AGAINST FINLAND
• Ahead of the ministerial, the Secretary General denounced Russia’s attempts “to
destabilise our democracies, with cyber-attacks, disinformation, energy blackmail, and
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even migration”. He condemned Moscow’s actions facilitating the arrival of
migrants at Finland's border with Russia, thus using migration as a tool to put
pressure on a NATO Ally. He stressed that “NATO stands in solidarity with our Ally
Finland.” He said he was in close contact with the Finnish government, and NATO is
following the situation very closely, but he noted that Helsinki has so far not
requested NATO’s involvement in the situation. The Secretary General was confident
that the Finnish authorities are able to deal with this situation themselves, with the
support of the EU Border Agency, Frontex.
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