NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană gave introductory remarks at the Meeting of the Council of Presidents of Business Europe in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday (23 November 2023). The event was organised by the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium.
During his address, Mr Geoană emphasised the importance of the partnership between NATO and industry, underlining that security is our shared responsibility. He also stressed that new technologies are becoming arenas for global competition and highlighted NATO’s adaption to technological transformation, including through the establishment of the new Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and the NATO Innovation Fund.
The NATO ministers also addressed alliance missions and operations, including in the Western Balkans and in Iraq. “In response to recent tensions in Kosovo, NATO has deployed hundreds of additional reserve forces to our [Kosovo Force] operation in recent weeks,” he said.
The KFOR is conducting more patrols in the northern part of Kosovo. “These are prudent steps to ensure KFOR has the forces it needs to fulfil its U.N. mandate impartially,” Stoltenberg said.
He said leaders in Serbia and Kosovo must behave responsibly, refrain from destabilizing actions and re-engage in the European Union-sponsored dialogue. “This is the only way to lasting peace in Kosovo,” he said.
In Iraq, the NATO mission is expanding support to Iraqi security institutions, to help prevent the return of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. “Terrorism remains the most direct asymmetric threat to the alliance,” he said.
To combat this, Stoltenberg announced that Assistant Secretary General Tom Goffus will serve as special coordinator for counterterrorism. “He will ensure that NATO’s response to terrorism remains strong, effective and coherent,” Stoltenberg said.
Defense ministers also discussed moves to strengthen alliance defenses announced during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania last summer. NATO leaders agreed on the most robust defense plans since the end of the Cold War, the secretary general said. “We are now taking the next steps: This means assigning the necessary forces, developing new capabilities and adjusting our command and control structures,” he said.
Source : NATO
