Seven years after the 2016 Warsaw summit, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance reassembled at NATO’s eastern flank to continue the process of the Alliance’s adaptation to the new security situation caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The allies took decisions aimed at strengthening collective defence through the adoption of new defence plans and preparation of forces ready to respond in the event of threat. They committed to raising their defence expenditure to at least two percent of GDP.

They also reaffirmed their unity and strength of their transatlantic bonds in a situation of the greatest threat to European security in decades. It was the first time that Finland took part in the NATO summit deliberations as a member state. Owing to the efforts of NATO Secretary General, at the margins of the summit Turkey and Sweden reached an agreement aimed at advancing the approval of Sweden’s accession protocols. The completion of the process and Sweden accession to the Alliance will further strengthen NATO’s defence potential.

The heads of state and government agreed to extend Jens Stoltenberg’s term of office as NATO Secretary General by another year. He will be heading the Alliance’s work until October 2024.

Vilnius also hosted the inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The establishment of the Council is a symbol of taking the relations between the Alliance and Ukraine to the next level. The Allies undertook to provide Ukraine with long-running practical support in the battle it has been fighting against Russia’s brutal aggression to regain sovereignty and territorial integrity. The arrangements made at the NATO Summit in Vilnius will bring Ukraine significantly closer to its future membership of the North Atlantic Alliance.

NATO heads of state and government also met with the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, and with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. They jointly discussed the follow-up actions in response to the challenges to global security architecture ensuing from the war waged by Russia against Ukraine as well as from rising competition among the world’s superpowers.

Minister Zbigniew Rau took part in a meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO states and of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and Georgia, attended by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. He reassured the assembly of Poland’s unwavering support for these partners and readiness to continue to shape their individual NATO cooperation plans and contribute to their development.

The next meeting of NATO heads of state and government is scheduled for 2024 in Washington, D.C. The event will offer an opportunity to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Alliance and the 25th anniversary of Poland’s membership of the Alliance.

 

MFA Press Office

Photo: Marek Borawski/KPRP