BrusselsSummitCommuniqué

IssuedbytheHeadsofStateandGovernmentparticipatinginthemeetingoftheNorthAtlanticCouncilinBrussels14June2021

1.We,theHeadsofStateandGovernmentofthe30NATOAllies,havegatheredinBrusselstoreaffirmourunity,solidarity,andcohesion,andtoopenanewchapterintransatlanticrelations,atatimewhenthesecurityenvironmentwefaceisincreasinglycomplex.NATOremainsthefoundationofourcollectivedefenceandtheessentialforumforsecurityconsultationsanddecisionsamongAllies.NATOisadefensiveAllianceandwillcontinuetostriveforpeace,security,andstabilityinthewholeoftheEuro-Atlanticarea.WeremainfirmlycommittedtoNATO’sfoundingWashingtonTreaty,includingthatanattackagainstoneAllyshallbeconsideredanattackagainstusall,asenshrinedinArticle5.Wewillcontinuetopursuea360-degreeapproachtoprotectanddefendourindivisiblesecurityandtofulfilNATO’sthreecoretasksofcollectivedefence,crisismanagement,andcooperativesecurity.

2.NATOisthestrongestandmostsuccessfulAllianceinhistory.Itguaranteesthesecurityofourterritoryandouronebillioncitizens,ourfreedom,andthevaluesweshare,includingindividualliberty,humanrights,democracy,andtheruleoflaw.Weareboundtogetherbyourcommonvalues,enshrinedintheWashingtonTreaty,thebedrockofourunity,solidarity,andcohesion.WecommittofulfilingourresponsibilitiesasAlliesaccordingly.WereaffirmouradherencetothepurposesandprinciplesoftheUnitedNations(UN)Charter.Wearecommittedtotherules-basedinternationalorder.WecommittoreinforceconsultationswhenthesecurityorstabilityofanAllyisthreatenedorwhenourfundamentalvaluesandprinciplesareatrisk.

3.Wefacemultifacetedthreats,systemiccompetitionfromassertiveandauthoritarianpowers,aswellasgrowingsecuritychallengestoourcountriesandourcitizensfromallstrategicdirections.Russia’saggressiveactionsconstituteathreattoEuro-Atlanticsecurity;terrorisminallitsformsandmanifestationsremainsapersistentthreattousall.Stateandnon-stateactorschallengetherules-basedinternationalorderandseektounderminedemocracyacrosstheglobe.Instabilitybeyondourbordersisalsocontributingtoirregularmigrationandhumantrafficking.China’sgrowinginfluenceandinternationalpoliciescanpresentchallengesthatweneedtoaddresstogetherasanAlliance.WewillengageChinawithaviewtodefendingthesecurityinterestsoftheAlliance.Weareincreasinglyconfrontedbycyber,hybrid,andotherasymmetricthreats,includingdisinformationcampaigns,andbythemalicioususeofever-moresophisticatedemerging

anddisruptivetechnologies.Rapidadvancesinthespacedomainareaffectingoursecurity.Theproliferationofweaponsofmassdestructionandtheerosionofthearmscontrolarchitecturealsoundermineourcollectivesecurity.ClimatechangeisathreatmultiplierthatimpactsAlliancesecurity.ThegreatestresponsibilityoftheAllianceistoprotectanddefendourterritoriesandourpopulationsagainstattack,andwewilladdressallthreatsandchallengeswhichaffectEuro-Atlanticsecurity.

4.WegatheratatimewhentheCOVID-19pandemiccontinuestotestournationsandourresilience.NATOandAlliedmilitarieshavesupportedthecivilianresponsetothepandemic,whileensuringourcollectivedefenceandtheeffectivenessofouroperations.Wehavealsoprovidedcriticalassistancetoanumberofpartnersthroughthedeliveryofvitalmedicalsupplies.Wepaytributetoallthosewhocombatthispandemicinourcountriesandaroundtheworld.

5.AtourDecember2019meetinginLondon,weaskedtheSecretaryGeneraltocarryoutaforward-lookingreflectionprocesstofurtherstrengthenNATO’spoliticaldimension,includingconsultations.WerecognisetheimportantcontributionoftheindependentgroupappointedbytheSecretaryGeneraltosupportNATO2030.Asaresult,todayweagreeNATO2030–atransatlanticagendaforthefuture.Throughoutitshistory,NATOhascontinuouslyadaptedtoachangingsecurityenvironment.TheNATO2030agendacomplementsandbuildsonourongoingpoliticalandmilitaryadaptation,strengthensourabilitytodeliveronthethreecoretasksandcontributestomakingourstrongAllianceevenstrongerandreadyforthefuture.

6. Tothatendweagreeto:

ReaffirmthatNATOistheunique,essentialandindispensabletransatlanticforumforconsultationsandjointactiononallmattersrelatedtoourindividualandcollectivesecurity.WepledgetostrengthenandbroadenourconsultationsandtoensurethatNATOremainsflexibleandeffectivetoconductmilitaryoperationsinsupportofourcommonsecurity.WereaffirmtheAlliance’sshareddemocraticprinciplesaswellasourcommitmenttothespiritandtheletteroftheNorthAtlanticTreaty.WecommittoreinforcingconsultationswhenthesecurityorstabilityofanAllyisthreatenedorwhenourfundamentalvaluesandprinciplesareatrisk.

StrengthenNATOastheorganisingframeworkforthecollectivedefenceoftheEuro-Atlanticarea,againstallthreats,fromalldirections.Wereiterateourcommitmenttomaintaininganappropriatemixofnuclear,conventionalandmissiledefencecapabilitiesfordeterrenceanddefence,andtothe2014DefenceInvestmentPledge,initsentirety.Wecommittothefullandspeedyimplementationofongoingworktofurtherstrengthenourdeterrenceanddefenceposture,andwepledgetocontinuetoimprovethereadinessofourforcesandtostrengthenandmodernisetheNATOForceStructuretomeetcurrentandfuturedefenceneeds.

Enhanceourresilience.Notingthatresilienceremainsanationalresponsibility,wewilladoptamoreintegratedandbettercoordinatedapproach,consistentwithourcollective

commitmentunderArticle3oftheNorthAtlanticTreaty,toreducevulnerabilitiesandensureourmilitariescaneffectivelyoperateinpeace,crisisandconflict.Allieswilldevelopaproposaltoestablish,assess,reviewandmonitorresilienceobjectivestoguidenationally-developedresiliencegoalsandimplementationplans.ItwillbeuptoeachindividualAllytodeterminehowtoestablishandmeetnationalresiliencegoalsandimplementationplans,allowingthemtodosoinamannerthatiscompatiblewithrespectivenationalcompetences,structures,processesandobligations,andwhereapplicablethoseoftheEU.

FostertechnologicalcooperationamongAlliesinNATO,promoteinteroperabilityandencouragethedevelopmentandadoptionoftechnologicalsolutionstoaddressourmilitaryneeds.Forthispurposewewilllaunchacivil-militaryDefenceInnovationAcceleratorfortheNorthAtlantic.WealsoagreetoestablishaNATOInnovationFund,whereAllieswhosowishcansupportstart-upsworkingondual-useemerginganddisruptivetechnologiesinareaskeytoAlliedsecurity.

EnhanceNATO’sabilitytocontributetopreserveandshapetherules-basedinternationalorderinareasthatareimportanttoAlliedsecurity.Wewillincreaseourdialogueandpracticalcooperationwithexistingpartners,includingwiththeEuropeanUnion,aspirantcountriesandourpartnersintheAsiaPacific,andstrengthenourengagementwithkeyglobalactorsandothernewinterlocutorsbeyondtheEuro-Atlanticarea,includingfromAfrica,AsiaandLatinAmerica.

SubstantiallystrengthenNATO’sabilitytoprovidetrainingandcapacitybuildingsupporttopartners,recognisingthatconflict,othersecuritydevelopmentsandpervasiveinstabilityinNATO’sneighbourhooddirectlyimpactAlliedsecurity.

AimforNATOtobecometheleadinginternationalorganisationwhenitcomestounderstandingandadaptingtotheimpactofclimatechangeonsecurity.Weagreetosignificantlyreducegreenhousegasemissionsfrommilitaryactivitiesandinstallationswithoutimpairingpersonnelsafety,operationaleffectivenessandourdeterrenceanddefenceposture.WeinvitetheSecretaryGeneraltoformulatearealistic,ambitiousandconcretetargetforthereductionofgreenhousegasemissionsbytheNATOpoliticalandmilitarystructuresandfacilitiesandassessthefeasibilityofreachingnetzeroemissionsby2050.Wewillalsoinitiatearegularhigh-levelclimateandsecuritydialoguetoexchangeviewsandcoordinatefurtheraction.

InvitetheSecretaryGeneraltoleadtheprocesstodevelopthenextStrategicConcept.TheConceptwillbenegotiatedandagreedbytheCouncilinPermanentSessionandendorsedbyNATOLeadersatthenextSummit.

7.TheNATO2030agendasetsahigherlevelofambitionforNATO.Itprovidesclearguidelinesforfurtheradaptationtoaddressexisting,newandfuturethreatsandchallenges,buildingontheongoingpoliticalandmilitaryadaptationoftheAlliance.DeliveringontheNATO2030agenda,thethreecoretasksandthenextStrategicConceptrequiresadequateresourcingthroughnationaldefenceexpenditureandcommonfunding.Basedonrequirements,weagreetoincreasesuchresourcing,includingasnecessaryNATOcommonfundingstartingin2023,takingintoaccountsustainability,affordabilityandaccountability.Whenwemeetin2022,wewillagree,alongsidetheStrategicConcept,thespecificrequirementsforadditionalfundingupto2030andtheresourceimplicationsacrosstheNATOMilitaryBudget,theNATOSecurityInvestmentProgrammeandtheCivilBudget,

aswellasidentifypotentialefficiencymeasures.

8.NATO’sfundamentalandenduringpurposeistosafeguardthefreedomandsecurityofallitsmembersbypoliticalandmilitarymeans.Theevolvingsecurityenvironmentincreasinglyrequiresustoaddressthreatsandchallengesthroughtheuseofmilitaryandnon-militarytoolsinadeliberate,coherent,andsustainedmanner.NATOwilltakeatailoredandstructuredapproach.NATOusesavarietyofnon-militarytoolswhichsupporttheAlliance’sthreecoretasks.ItalsoservesasaplatformforenhancingthecoherentuseofthesetoolsbyAllies,undertheirownauthorityandcontrol,andalongsideotherinternationalactors.Wewillcontinuetostrengtheneffective,clear,andconvincingstrategiccommunicationasanessentialelementtosupportallthreeofNATO’scoretasks.

9.Formorethantwenty-fiveyears,NATOhasworkedtobuildapartnershipwithRussia,includingthroughtheNATO-RussiaCouncil(NRC).WhileNATOstandsbyitsinternationalcommitments,Russiacontinuestobreachthevalues,principles,trust,andcommitmentsoutlinedinagreeddocumentsthatunderpintheNATO-Russiarelationship.WereaffirmourdecisionstowardsRussiaagreedatthe2014WalesSummitandalloursubsequentNATOmeetings.WehavesuspendedallpracticalcivilianandmilitarycooperationwithRussia,whileremainingopentopoliticaldialogue.UntilRussiademonstratescompliancewithinternationallawanditsinternationalobligationsandresponsibilities,therecanbenoreturnto“businessasusual”.Wewillcontinuetorespondtothedeterioratingsecurityenvironmentbyenhancingourdeterrenceanddefenceposture,includingbyaforwardpresenceintheeasternpartoftheAlliance.NATOdoesnotseekconfrontationandposesnothreattoRussia.Decisionswehavetakenarefullyconsistentwithourinternationalcommitments,andthereforecannotberegardedbyanyoneascontradictingtheNATO-RussiaFoundingAct.

WecallonRussiatorescindthedesignationoftheCzechRepublicandthe

UnitedStatesas“unfriendlycountries”andtorefrainfromtakinganyotherstepsinconsistentwiththeViennaConventiononDiplomaticRelations.

Russia’sgrowingmulti-domainmilitarybuild-up,moreassertiveposture,novelmilitarycapabilities,andprovocativeactivities,includingnearNATOborders,aswellasitslarge-scaleno-noticeandsnapexercises,thecontinuedmilitarybuild-upinCrimea,thedeploymentofmoderndual-capablemissilesinKaliningrad,militaryintegrationwithBelarus,andrepeatedviolationsofNATOAlliedairspace,increasinglythreatenthesecurityoftheEuro-AtlanticareaandcontributetoinstabilityalongNATObordersandbeyond.

Inadditiontoitsmilitaryactivities,RussiahasalsointensifieditshybridactionsagainstNATOAlliesandpartners,includingthroughproxies.ThisincludesattemptedinterferenceinAlliedelectionsanddemocraticprocesses;politicalandeconomicpressureandintimidation;widespreaddisinformationcampaigns;maliciouscyberactivities;andturningablindeyetocybercriminalsoperatingfromitsterritory,includingthosewhotargetanddisruptcriticalinfrastructureinNATOcountries.Italsoincludesillegalanddestructive

activitiesbyRussianIntelligenceServicesonAlliedterritory,someofwhichhaveclaimedlivesofcitizensandcausedwidespreadmaterialdamage.WestandinfullsolidaritywiththeCzechRepublicandotherAlliesthathavebeenaffectedinthisway.

Russiahascontinuedtodiversifyitsnucleararsenal,includingbydeployingasuiteofshort-andintermediate-rangemissilesystemsthatareintendedtocoerceNATO.Russiahasrecapitalisedroughly80percentofitsstrategicnuclearforces,anditisexpandingitsnuclearcapabilitiesbypursuingnovelanddestabilisingweaponsandadiversearrayofdual-capablesystems.Russiacontinuestouseaggressiveandirresponsiblenuclearrhetoricandhasincreaseditsongoingemphasisondestabilisingconventionalexercisesthatincludedual-capablesystems.Russia’snuclearstrategyandcomprehensivenuclearweaponsystemsmodernisation,diversification,andexpansion,includingthequalitativeandquantitativeincreaseofRussiannon-strategicnuclearweapons,increasinglysupportamoreaggressivepostureofstrategicintimidation.WewillcontinuetoworkcloselytogethertoaddressallthethreatsandchallengesposedbyRussia.

WereiterateoursupportfortheterritorialintegrityandsovereigntyofUkraine,Georgia,andtheRepublicofMoldovawithintheirinternationallyrecognisedborders.Inaccordancewithitsinternationalcommitments,wecallonRussiatowithdrawtheforcesithasstationedinallthreecountrieswithouttheirconsent.WestronglycondemnandwillnotrecogniseRussia’sillegalandillegitimateannexationofCrimea,anddenounceitstemporaryoccupation.ThehumanrightsabusesandviolationsagainsttheCrimeanTatarsandmembersofotherlocalcommunitiesmustend.Russia’srecentmassivemilitarybuild-upanddestabilisingactivitiesinandaroundUkrainehavefurtherescalatedtensionsandunderminedsecurity.WecallonRussiatoreverseitsmilitarybuild-upandstoprestrictingnavigationinpartsoftheBlackSea.WealsocallonRussiatostopimpedingaccesstothe

SeaofAzovandUkrainianports.WecommendUkraine’spostureofrestraintanddiplomaticapproachinthiscontext.Weseektocontributetode-escalation.WearealsosteppingupoursupporttoUkraine.WecallforthefullimplementationoftheMinskAgreementsbyallsides,andsupporttheeffortsoftheNormandyformatandtheTrilateralContactGroup.Russia,asasignatoryoftheMinskAgreements,bearssignificantresponsibilityinthisregard.WecallonRussiatostopfuellingtheconflictbyprovidingfinancialandmilitarysupporttothearmedformationsitbacksineasternUkraine.WereiterateourfullsupporttotheOrganizationforSecurityandCooperationinEurope(OSCE)SpecialMonitoringMissiontoUkraine.WestresstheimportanceofensuringitssafetyandfullandunhinderedaccessthroughouttheentireterritoryofUkraine,includingCrimeaandtheRussia-Ukraineborder,inaccordancewithitsmandate.WefurthercallonRussiatoreverseitsrecognitionoftheAbkhaziaandSouthOssetiaregionsofGeorgiaasindependentstates;toimplementtheEU-mediated2008ceasefireagreement;toenditsmilitarisationoftheseregionsandattemptstoforciblyseparatethemfromtherestofGeorgiathroughthecontinuedconstructionofborder-likeobstacles;andtoceasethehumanrightsviolations,arbitrarydetentions,andharassmentsofGeorgiancitizens.WereiterateourfirmsupporttotheGenevaInternationalDiscussions.WealsocallonRussiatoengageconstructivelyintheTransnistriaSettlement

Process.WearecommittedtosupportingtheRepublicofMoldova’sdemocraticreforms

andprovidingassistancethroughourDefenceandRelatedSecurityCapacityBuildingInitiative.

Weremainopentoaperiodic,focused,andmeaningfuldialoguewithaRussiawillingtoengageonthebasisofreciprocityintheNRC,withaviewtoavoidingmisunderstanding,miscalculation,andunintendedescalation,andtoincreasetransparencyandpredictability.NRCmeetingshavehelpeduscommunicateclearlyourpositions,andwearereadyforthenextmeetingoftheNRC.WewillcontinuetofocusourdialoguewithRussiaonthecriticalissuesweface.TheconflictinandaroundUkraineis,incurrentcircumstances,thefirsttopiconouragenda.NATOremainscommittedtomakinggooduseoftheexistingmilitarylinesofcommunicationbetweenbothsidestopromotepredictabilityandtransparency,andtoreducerisks,andcallsonRussiatodosoaswell.WecontinuetoaspiretoaconstructiverelationshipwithRussiawhenitsactionsmakethatpossible.

Terrorism,inallitsformsandmanifestations,continuestoposeadirectthreattothesecurityofourpopulations,andtointernationalstabilityandprosperity.Wecategoricallyrejectandcondemnterrorisminthestrongestpossibleterms.Allieswillcontinuetofightthisthreatwithdetermination,resolve,andinsolidarity.Whilenationsretaintheprimaryresponsibilityfortheirdomesticsecurityandtheirownresilience,thefightagainstterrorismdemandsacoherent,long-termeffortbytheinternationalcommunityasawhole,involvingawiderangeofinstrumentsandactors.NATO’sroleinthefightagainstterrorismcontributestoallthreecoretasksoftheAlliance,andisanintegralpartoftheAlliance’s360-degreeapproachtodeterrenceanddefence.CooperationinNATOaddsvaluetoAllies’nationaleffortsandcapacitytoprevent,mitigate,respondto,andberesilientagainstactsofterrorism.Wecondemnallfinancialsupportofterrorism.Wealsorecognisetheneedtoaddresstheconditionsconducivetothespreadofterrorism.Ourapproachtoterrorism,anditscauses,isinaccordancewithinternationallawandthepurposesandprinciplesoftheUNCharter,andupholdsallrelevantUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilResolutions(UNSCRs)onthefightagainstterrorism.

WeremainfullycommittedtoNATO’senhancedroleintheinternationalcommunity’sfightagainstterrorism,includingthroughawarenessandanalysis,preparednessandresponsiveness,capabilities,capacitybuildingandpartnerships,andoperations.Wecontinuetoimplementour2019ActionPlanandwillupdateitbytheendofthisyear,totakeaccountoftheevolvingterroristthreats.WearedeterminedtomeetourcommitmentsunderUNSCR2396,includingthroughNATO’snewBattlefieldEvidencePolicy,supportedbyimprovedinformationanddatacollection,preservation,sharing,andanalysis,withinNATO’smandate.Wewillcontinueourworktodefendagainstimprovisedexplosivedevicesandchemical,biological,radiological,andnuclear(CBRN)threats.Wearedevelopingcapabilitiestoprotectourforcesagainstterroristmisuseoftechnology,whilecapitalisingonemergingtechnologiestohelpusinthefightagainstterrorism.Wearealsosteppingupsupporttopartnercountriestofightterrorismthemselvesanddenyterroristssafehaven,whichinturnstrengthensNATO’sownsecurity.NATOwillalsocontinuetoengage,asappropriate,withpartnercountriesandotherinternationalactorstoensureaddedvalueand

complementarity.NATOcontinuestoplayitspartintheGlobalCoalitiontoDefeatISIS/Da’esh,includingthroughourAirborneWarning&ControlSystem(AWACS)surveillanceflightsandstaff-to-staffsupport.

Afteralmost20years,NATO'smilitaryoperationsinAfghanistanarecomingtoanend.Wehavedeniedterroristsasafehavenfromwhichtoplotattacksagainstus,helpedAfghanistantobuilditssecurityinstitutions,andtrained,advised,andassistedtheAfghanNationalDefenceandSecurityForces;theyarenowtakingonfullresponsibilityforsecurityintheircountry.Wepaytributetothosewhohavelosttheirlivesorhavebeenwounded,andexpressourdeepappreciationtoallthemenandwomenwhohaveservedundertheNATOflag,andtotheirfamilies.

19.WithdrawingourtroopsdoesnotmeanendingourrelationshipwithAfghanistan.Wewillnowopenanewchapter.WeaffirmourcommitmenttocontinuetostandwithAfghanistan,itspeople,anditsinstitutionsinpromotingsecurityandupholdingthe

hard-wongainsofthelast20years.Recallingourpreviouscommitments,NATOwillcontinuetoprovidetrainingandfinancialsupporttotheAfghanNationalDefenceandSecurityForces,includingthroughtheAfghanNationalArmyTrustFund.NATOwillretainaSeniorCivilianRepresentative'sOfficeinKabultocontinuediplomaticengagementandenhanceourpartnershipwithAfghanistan.Recognisingitsimportancetoanenduringdiplomaticandinternationalpresence,aswellastoAfghanistan'sconnectivitywiththeworld,NATOwillprovidetransitionalfundingtoensurecontinuedfunctioningofHamidKarzaiInternationalAirport.WewillalsostepupdialogueonAfghanistanwithrelevantinternationalandregionalpartners.WecontinuetosupporttheongoingAfghan-ownedandAfghan-ledpeaceprocess,andcallonallstakeholderstohelpAfghanistanfosteralastinginclusivepoliticalsettlementthatputsanendtoviolence;safeguardsthehumanrightsofAfghans,particularlywomen,children,andminorities;upholdstheruleoflaw;andensuresthatAfghanistanneveragainservesasasafehavenforterrorists.

NATOremainsaleadingandactivecontributortointernationalsecuritythroughoperations,missions,andactivities.Wearegratefultoourpartnersfortheirsubstantialcontributionstotheseefforts.NATOandAlliessupportIraqinitsfightagainstISIS/Da’eshandterrorisminallitsformsandmanifestations.WecommendtheGovernmentofIraqandtheIraqiSecurityForcesfortheircontinuedeffortstocombatISIS/Da’esh.BasedonarequestfromtheIraqiGovernment,wewillstrengthenoursupporttoIraqthroughourNATOMissionIraq.Wewillbroadenournon-combatadvisory,training,andcapacitybuildingmissiontosupportIraqinbuildingmoreeffective,sustainable,accountable,andinclusivesecurityinstitutionsandforces.ThisexpansionofNATOMissionIraq,includingadditionalsupporttotheIraqisecurityinstitutions,willbedemand-driven,incremental,scalable,andbasedonconditionsontheground.ItwillbecarriedoutwiththefullconsentoftheIraqiauthorities,infullrespectofIraq’ssovereigntyandterritorialintegrity,andinclose

coordinationwithrelevantpartnersandinternationalactors,includingtheGlobalCoalitiontoDefeatISIS/Da’esh,theUnitedNations,andtheEuropeanUnion.

DeterrenceanddefenceareattheheartoftheAlliance,underpinnedbyArticle

oftheWashingtonTreatyandanenduringtransatlanticbond.Weareunitedandresoluteinourabilityandcommitmenttodefendoneanother.WewillmaintainandfurtherdevelopthefullrangeofreadyforcesandcapabilitiesnecessarytoensurecredibledeterrenceanddefenceandprovidetheAlliancewithawiderangeofoptionstotailorourresponsetospecificcircumstancesandtorespondtoanythreats,fromstateandnon-stateactors,fromwherevertheyarise,andpotentiallyfrommultipledirectionsinmorethanoneregionsimultaneously.Whilereaffirmingourcommitmenttothethreecoretasks,wehaveplacedarenewedemphasisoncollectivedefence,andhavealsoensuredthatNATOretainstheabilitytoprojectstabilityandfightagainstterrorism.

WewelcomethesignificantprogressalreadymadetoimplementourpreviousdecisionstostrengthenNATO’sdeterrenceanddefencepostureandreaffirmourcommitmenttotheirfullandspeedyimplementation.Wehaveacceleratedourmilitaryadaptationwithincreaseddefencespending,moderncapabilities,enhancedpoliticalandmilitaryresponsiveness,andhigherreadinessofourforces.NATOistakingforwardanewmilitarystrategythroughtheimplementationoftwosignificantmilitaryconceptsthatwillfurtherstrengthenourabilitytodeteranddefendagainstanypotentialadversaryandtomaintainanddevelopourmilitaryadvantagenowandinthefuture.Thedeterrenceanddefenceconceptprovidesasingle,coherentframeworktocontestanddeteranddefendagainsttheAlliance’smainthreatsinamulti-domainenvironment,andwillstrengthenourpreparednesstoaddresschallenges,particularlypervasiveinstabilityandstrategicshocks.Thewarfightingconceptprovidesalong-termvisionformaintaininganddevelopingNATO’sdecisivemilitaryedge.Theimplementationofthedeterrenceanddefenceconceptwillguideenhancedadvanceplanningtorespondtopotentialcrisisandconflict,aswellasfurtherimprovetheuseandorganisationofAlliedforcesandcapabilitiesinalloperationaldomainsandensuremoreeffectivecommandandcontrol.Wearedevelopingstrategic,domain-specificandregionalmilitaryplanstoimproveourabilitytorespondtoanycontingenciesandensuretimelyreinforcement.Wewillemphasisepersistentactivitiesinpeacetimetosupportdeterrence,includingthroughthepresenceanddynamicpostureofourmilitaryforcesandexercises,basedonenhancedcoordinationamongstAlliesandNATO.Throughtheimplementationofthewarfightingconcept,wewillensurethattheAlliancecontinuouslydevelopsitsmilitaryandtechnologicaladvantage,asthecharacterofconflictevolves.Wecommittothefullimplementationofthesenewconcepts,andtotakingthenecessarystepstoenhancethecoherencebetweenrelevantnationalandNATOactivitiesandplansandtheconcepts.

WecommittofurtherstrengtheningandmodernisingtheNATOForceStructuretomeetcurrentandfuturedeterrenceanddefenceneeds.Wewillensureaflexible,agile,andresilientmulti-domainforcearchitecturewiththerightforcesintherightplaceattherighttime.Wewillstrengthenmoderncommandandcontroltailoredtosupportour360-

degreeposture,dynamicforcemanagement,improvedresponsesystem,andplans.Indoingso,we