ORTH ATIANTIC TREATY O RGANIZATIO 1 Brussels Summit Communique Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels 14 June 2021 14 Jun 2021 - Press Release 2021 086 Issued on 14 Jun 2021 Last updated 01 Jul 2022 16 41 1 We the Heads of State and Government of the 30 NATO Allies have gathered in Brussels to reaffirm our unity solidarity and cohesion and to open a new chapter in transatlantic relations at a time when the security environment we face is increasingly complex NATO remains the foundation of our collective defence and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions among Allies NATO is a defensive Alliance and will continue to strive for peace security and stability in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic area We remain firmly committed to NATO's founding Washington Treaty including that an attack against one Ally shall be considered an attack against us all as enshrined in Article 5 We will continue to pursue a 360-degree approach to protect and defend our indivisible security and to fulfil NATO's three core tasks of collective defence crisis management and cooperative security 2 NATO is the strongest and most successful Alliance in history It guarantees the security of our territory and our one billion citizens our freedom and the values we share including individual liberty human rights democracy and the rule of law We are bound together by our common values enshrined in the Washington Treaty the bedrock of our unity solidarity and cohesion We commit to fulfiling our responsibilities as Allies accordingly We reaffirm our adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations UN Charter We are committed to the rules-based international order We commit to reinforce consultations when the security or stability of an Ally is threatened or when our fundamental values and principles are at risk 3 We face multifaceted threats systemic competition from assertive and authoritarian powers as well as growing security challenges to our countries and our citizens from all strategic directions Russia's aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a persistent threat to us all State and non-state actors challenge the rules-based international order and seek to undermine democracy across the globe Instability beyond our borders is also contributing to irregular migration and human trafficking China's growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance We will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the Alliance We are increasingly confronted by cyber hybrid and other asymmetric threats including disinformation campaigns and by the malicious use of ever-more sophisticated emerging and disruptive technologies Rapid advances in the space domain are affecting our security The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the erosion of the arms control architecture also undermine our collective security Climate change is a threat multiplier that impacts Alliance security The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territories and our populations against attack and we will address all threats and challenges which affect Euro-Atlantic security 4 We gather at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to test our nations and our resilience NATO and Allied militaries have supported the civilian response to the pandemic while ensuring our collective defence and the effectiveness of our operations We have also provided critical assistance to a number of partners through the delivery of vital medical supplies We pay tribute to all those who combat this pandemic in our countries and around the world 5 At our December 2019 meeting in London we asked the Secretary General to carry out a forward-looking reflection process to further strengthen NATO's political dimension including consultations We recognise the important contribution of the independent group appointed by the Secretary General to support NATO 2030 As a result today we agree NATO 2030 - a transatlantic agenda for the future Throughout its history NATO has continuously adapted to a changing security environment The NATO 2030 agenda complements and builds on our ongoing political and military adaptation strengthens our ability to deliver on the three core tasks and contributes to making our strong Alliance even stronger and ready for the future 6 To that end we agree to a Reaffirm that NATO is the unique essential and indispensable transatlantic forum for consultations and joint action on all matters related to our individual and collective security We pledge to strengthen and broaden our consultations and to ensure that NATO remains flexible and effective to conduct military operations in support of our common security We reaffirm the Alliance's shared democratic principles as well as our commitment to the spirit and the letter of the North Atlantic Treaty We commit to reinforcing consultations when the security or stability of an Ally is threatened or when our fundamental values and principles are at risk b Strengthen NATO as the organising framework for the collective defence of the Euro-Atlantic area against all threats from all directions We reiterate our commitment to maintaining an appropriate mix of nuclear conventional and missile defence capabilities for deterrence and defence and to the 2014 Defence Investment Pledge in its entirety We commit to the full and speedy implementation of ongoing work to further strengthen our deterrence and defence posture and we pledge to continue to improve the readiness of our forces and to strengthen and modernise the NATO Force Structure to meet current and future defence needs c Enhance our resilience Noting that resilience remains a national responsibility we will adopt a more integrated and better coordinated approach consistent with our collective commitment under Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure our militaries can effectively operate in peace crisis and conflict Allies will develop a proposal to establish assess review and monitor resilience objectives to guide nationallydeveloped resilience goals and implementation plans It will be up to each individual Ally to determine how to establish and meet national resilience goals and implementation plans allowing them to do so in a manner that is compatible with respective national competences structures processes and obligations and where applicable those of the EU d Foster technological cooperation among Allies in NATO promote interoperability and encourage the development and adoption of technological solutions to address our military needs For this purpose we will launch a civil-military Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic We also agree to establish a NATO Innovation Fund where Allies who so wish can support start-ups working on dual-use emerging and disruptive technologies in areas key to Allied security e Enhance NATO's ability to contribute to preserve and shape the rules-based international order in areas that are important to Allied security We will increase our dialogue and practical cooperation with existing partners including with the European Union aspirant countries and our partners in the Asia Pacific and strengthen our engagement with key global actors and other new interlocutors beyond the Euro-Atlantic area including from Africa Asia and Latin America f Substantially strengthen NATO's ability to provide training and capacity building support to partners recognising that conflict other security developments and pervasive instability in NATO's neighbourhood directly impact Allied security g Aim for NATO to become the leading international organisation when it comes to understanding and adapting to the impact of climate change on security We agree to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from military activities and installations without impairing personnel safety operational effectiveness and our deterrence and defence posture We invite the Secretary General to formulate a realistic ambitious and concrete target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the NATO political and military structures and facilities and assess the feasibility of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 We will also initiate a regular high-level climate and security dialogue to exchange views and coordinate further action h Invite the Secretary General to lead the process to develop the next Strategic Concept The Concept will be negotiated and agreed by the Council in Permanent Session and endorsed by NATO Leaders at the next Summit 7 The NATO 2030 agenda sets a higher level of ambition for NATO It provides clear guidelines for further adaptation to address existing new and future threats and challenges building on the ongoing political and military adaptation of the Alliance Delivering on the NATO 2030 agenda the three core tasks and the next Strategic Concept requires adequate resourcing through national defence expenditure and common funding Based on requirements we agree to increase such resourcing including as necessary NATO common funding starting in 2023 taking into account sustainability affordability and accountability When we meet in 2022 we will agree alongside the Strategic Concept the specific requirements for additional funding up to 2030 and the resource implications across the NATO Military Budget the NATO Security Investment Programme and the Civil Budget as well as identify potential efficiency measures 8 NATO's fundamental and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means The evolving security environment increasingly requires us to address threats and challenges through the use of military and non-military tools in a deliberate coherent and sustained manner NATO will take a tailored and structured approach NATO uses a variety of non-military tools which support the Alliance's three core tasks It also serves as a platform for enhancing the coherent use of these tools by Allies under their own authority and control and alongside other international actors We will continue to strengthen effective clear and convincing strategic communication as an essential element to support all three of NATO's core tasks 9 For more than twenty-five years NATO has worked to build a partnership with Russia including through the NATO-Russia Council NRC While NATO stands by its international commitments Russia continues to breach the values principles trust and commitments outlined in agreed documents that underpin the NATO-Russia relationship We reaffirm our decisions towards Russia agreed at the 2014 Wales Summit and all our subsequent NATO meetings We have suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia while remaining open to political dialogue Until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities there can be no return to business as usual We will continue to respond to the deteriorating security environment by enhancing our deterrence and defence posture including by a forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia Decisions we have taken are fully consistent with our international commitments and therefore cannot be regarded by anyone as contradicting the NATO-Russia Founding Act We call on Russia to rescind the designation of the Czech Republic and the United States as 10 unfriendly countries and to refrain from taking any other steps inconsistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 11 Russia's growing multi-domain military build-up more assertive posture novel military capabilities and provocative activities including near NATO borders as well as its large-scale nonotice and snap exercises the continued military build-up in Crimea the deployment of modern dual-capable missiles in Kaliningrad military integration with Belarus and repeated violations of NATO Allied airspace increasingly threaten the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and contribute to instability along NATO borders and beyond In addition to its military activities Russia has also intensified its hybrid actions against 12 NATO Allies and partners including through proxies This includes attempted interference in Allied elections and democratic processes political and economic pressure and intimidation widespread disinformation campaigns malicious cyber activities and turning a blind eye to cyber criminals operating from its territory including those who target and disrupt critical infrastructure in NATO countries It also includes illegal and destructive activities by Russian Intelligence Services on Allied territory some of which have claimed lives of citizens and caused widespread material damage We stand in full solidarity with the Czech Republic and other Allies that have been affected in this way 13 Russia has continued to diversify its nuclear arsenal including by deploying a suite of short- and intermediate-range missile systems that are intended to coerce NATO Russia has recapitalised roughly 80 percent of its strategic nuclear forces and it is expanding its nuclear capabilities by pursuing novel and destabilising weapons and a diverse array of dual-capable systems Russia continues to use aggressive and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and has increased its ongoing emphasis on destabilising conventional exercises that include dual-capable systems Russia's nuclear strategy and comprehensive nuclear weapon systems modernisation diversification and expansion including the qualitative and quantitative increase of Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons increasingly support a more aggressive posture of strategic intimidation We will continue to work closely together to address all the threats and challenges posed by Russia 14 We reiterate our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine Georgia and the Republic of Moldova within their internationally recognised borders In accordance with its international commitments we call on Russia to withdraw the forces it has stationed in all three countries without their consent We strongly condemn and will not recognise Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea and denounce its temporary occupation The human rights abuses and violations against the Crimean Tatars and members of other local communities must end Russia's recent massive military build-up and destabilising activities in and around Ukraine have further escalated tensions and undermined security We call on Russia to reverse its military build-up and stop restricting navigation in parts of the Black Sea We also call on Russia to stop impeding access to the Sea of Azov and Ukrainian ports We commend Ukraine's posture of restraint and diplomatic approach in this context We seek to contribute to de-escalation We are also stepping up our support to Ukraine We call for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements by all sides and support the efforts of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group Russia as a signatory of the Minsk Agreements bears significant responsibility in this regard We call on Russia to stop fuelling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs in eastern Ukraine We reiterate our full support to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine We stress the importance of ensuring its safety and full and unhindered access throughout the entire territory of Ukraine including Crimea and the Russia-Ukraine border in accordance with its mandate We further call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia as independent states to implement the EU-mediated 2008 ceasefire agreement to end its militarisation of these regions and attempts to forcibly separate them from the rest of Georgia through the continued construction of border-like obstacles and to cease the human rights violations arbitrary detentions and harassments of Georgian citizens We reiterate our firm support to the Geneva International Discussions We also call on Russia to engage constructively in the Transnistria Settlement Process We are committed to supporting the Republic of Moldova's democratic reforms and providing assistance through our Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative We remain open to a periodic focused and meaningful dialogue with a Russia willing to 15 engage on the basis of reciprocity in the NRC with a view to avoiding misunderstanding miscalculation and unintended escalation and to increase transparency and predictability NRC meetings have helped us communicate clearly our positions and we are ready for the next meeting of the NRC We will continue to focus our dialogue with Russia on the critical issues we face The conflict in and around Ukraine is in current circumstances the first topic on our agenda NATO remains committed to making good use of the existing military lines of communication between both sides to promote predictability and transparency and to reduce risks and calls on Russia to do so as well We continue to aspire to a constructive relationship with Russia when its actions make that possible 16 Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations continues to pose a direct threat to the security of our populations and to international stability and prosperity We categorically reject and condemn terrorism in the strongest possible terms Allies will continue to fight this threat with determination resolve and in solidarity While nations retain the primary responsibility for their domestic security and their own resilience the fight against terrorism demands a coherent longterm effort by the international community as a whole involving a wide range of instruments and actors NATO's role in the fight against terrorism contributes to all three core tasks of the Alliance and is an integral part of the Alliance's 360-degree approach to deterrence and defence Cooperation in NATO adds value to Allies' national efforts and capacity to prevent mitigate respond to and be resilient against acts of terrorism We condemn all financial support of terrorism We also recognise the need to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism Our approach to terrorism and its causes is in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and upholds all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions UNSCRs on the fight against terrorism We remain fully committed to NATO's enhanced role in the international community's fight 17 against terrorism including through awareness and analysis preparedness and responsiveness capabilities capacity building and partnerships and operations We continue to implement our 2019 Action Plan and will update it by the end of this year to take account of the evolving terrorist threats We are determined to meet our commitments under UNSCR 2396 including through NATO's new Battlefield Evidence Policy supported by improved information and data collection preservation sharing and analysis within NATO's mandate We will continue our work to defend against improvised explosive devices and chemical biological radiological and nuclear CBRN threats We are developing capabilities to protect our forces against terrorist misuse of technology while capitalising on emerging technologies to help us in the fight against terrorism We are also stepping up support to partner countries to fight terrorism themselves and deny terrorists safe haven which in turn strengthens NATO's own security NATO will also continue to engage as appropriate with partner countries and other international actors to ensure added value and complementarity NATO continues to play its part in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Da'esh including through our Airborne Warning Control System AWACS surveillance flights and staff-tostaff support 18 After almost 20 years NATO's military operations in Afghanistan are coming to an end We have denied terrorists a safe haven from which to plot attacks against us helped Afghanistan to build its security institutions and trained advised and assisted the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces they are now taking on full responsibility for security in their country We pay tribute to those who have lost their lives or have been wounded and express our deep appreciation to all the men and women who have served under the NATO flag and to their families 19 Withdrawing our troops does not mean ending our relationship with Afghanistan We will now open a new chapter We affirm our commitment to continue to stand with Afghanistan its people and its institutions in promoting security and upholding the hard-won gains of the last 20 years Recalling our previous commitments NATO will continue to provide training and financial support to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces including through the Afghan National Army Trust Fund NATO will retain a Senior Civilian Representative's Office in Kabul to continue diplomatic engagement and enhance our partnership with Afghanistan Recognising its importance to an enduring diplomatic and international presence as well as to Afghanistan's connectivity with the world NATO will provide transitional funding to ensure continued functioning of Hamid Karzai International Airport We will also step up dialogue on Afghanistan with relevant international and regional partners We continue to support the ongoing Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process and call on all stakeholders to help Afghanistan foster a lasting inclusive political settlement that puts an end to violence safeguards the human rights of Afghans particularly women children and minorities upholds the rule of law and ensures that Afghanistan never again serves as a safe haven for terrorists 20 NATO remains a leading and active contributor to international security through operations missions and activities We are grateful to our partners for their substantial contributions to these efforts NATO and Allies support Iraq in its fight against ISIS Da'esh and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations We commend the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces for their continued efforts to combat ISIS Da'esh Based on a request from the Iraqi Government we will strengthen our support to Iraq through our NATO Mission Iraq We will broaden our non-combat advisory training and capacity building mission to support Iraq in building more effective sustainable accountable and inclusive security institutions and forces This expansion of NATO Mission Iraq including additional support to the Iraqi security institutions will be demand-driven incremental scalable and based on conditions on the ground It will be carried out with the full consent of the Iraqi authorities in full respect of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity and in close coordination with relevant partners and international actors including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Da'esh the United Nations and the European Union 21 Deterrence and defence are at the heart of the Alliance underpinned by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and an enduring transatlantic bond We are united and resolute in our ability and commitment to defend one another We will maintain and further develop the full range of ready forces and capabilities necessary to ensure credible deterrence and defence and provide the Alliance with a wide range of options to tailor our response to specific circumstances and to respond to any threats from state and non-state actors from wherever they arise and potentially from multiple directions in more than one region simultaneously While reaffirming our commitment to the three core tasks we have placed a renewed emphasis on collective defence and have also ensured that NATO retains the ability to project stability and fight against terrorism 22 We welcome the significant progress already made to implement our previous decisions to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture and reaffirm our commitment to their full and speedy implementation We have accelerated our military adaptation with increased defence spending modern capabilities enhanced political and military responsiveness and higher readiness of our forces NATO is taking forward a new military strategy through the implementation of two significant military concepts that will further strengthen our ability to deter and defend against any potential adversary and to maintain and develop our military advantage now and in the future The deterrence and defence concept provides a single coherent framework to contest and deter and defend against the Alliance's main threats in a multi-domain environment and will strengthen our preparedness to address challenges particularly pervasive instability and strategic shocks The warfighting concept provides a long-term vision for maintaining and developing NATO's decisive military edge The implementation of the deterrence and defence concept will guide enhanced advance planning to respond to potential crisis and conflict as well as further improve the use and organisation of Allied forces and capabilities in all operational domains and ensure more effective command and control We are developing strategic domainspecific and regional military plans to improve our ability to respond to any contingencies and ensure timely reinforcement We will emphasise persistent activities in peacetime to support deterrence including through the presence and dynamic posture of our military forces and exercises based on enhanced coordination amongst Allies and NATO Through the implementation of the warfighting concept we will ensure that the Alliance continuously develops its military and technological advantage as the character of conflict evolves We commit to the full implementation of these new concepts and to taking the necessary steps to enhance the coherence between relevant national and NATO activities and plans and the concepts 0ÿÿ 23 We commit to further strengthening and modernising the NATO Force Structure to meet current and future deterrence and defence needs We will ensure a flexible agile and resilient multi-domain force architecture with the right forces in the right place at the right time We will strengthen modern command and control tailored to support our 360-degree posture dynamic force management improved response system and plans In doing so we will place increased emphasis on the interdependence of geography domains and readiness As part of these overall efforts we are committed to continue increasing the readiness of our forces and the Alliance's rapid response capability including through the ongoing implementation of the NATO Readiness Initiative which is designed to strengthen the culture of readiness and help to provide forces at 30 days readiness or less We have sourced all the combat forces of the NATO Readiness Initiative with 30 major naval combatants 30 heavy or medium manoeuvre battalions and 30 kinetic air squadrons They are being organised and trained as larger combat formations for reinforcement and high-intensity warfighting or for rapid military crisis intervention 24 We will ensure that the NATO Command Structure is robust resilient and able to undertake all elements of effective command and control for simultaneous challenges across all domains and the full spectrum of missions including large-scale operations for collective defence Our two new commands Joint Force Command Norfolk headquarters and Joint Support and Enabling Command as well as the Cyberspace Operations Centre have achieved Initial Operational Capability Allied contributions to command and control through the NATO Force Structure and national headquarters as well as their strengthened relationship with the NATO Command Structure including by providing host nation support remain essential to improve the Alliance's regional understanding vigilance and ability to rapidly respond to any threat from any direction 25 We will not be constrained by any potential adversary as regards the freedom of movement of Allied forces by land air or sea to and within any part of Alliance territory Our deterrence and defence posture is underpinned by credible forces both in-place and ready for reinforcement within Europe and from across the Atlantic We will continue to strengthen and regularly exercise the Alliance's ability to rapidly reinforce any Ally that comes under threat We will continue to give high priority both nationally and in the Alliance to ensuring enablement of SACEUR's Area of Responsibility to improve our ability to support the deployment and sustainment of Allied forces into across and from the entire Alliance territory These efforts include taking forward our work on fuel supply distribution arrangements We reiterate that NATO's efforts to ensure a coherent approach and synergies with the EU in the area of military mobility should be pursued including with regard to military mobility related procedures that should apply to all Allies equally We continue to reinforce our maritime posture and to protect our sea lines of communication We welcome the establishment of the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence in Turkey We will maintain awareness of any potential threats to our critical undersea infrastructure and will continue to address them nationally and where needed collectively We welcome the Full Operational Capability of NATO's Rapid Air Mobility which was activated and utilised by Allies for relief flights carrying critical supplies to Allies and partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic 26 We reaffirm our commitment to respond in a measured balanced coordinated and timely way to Russia's growing and evolving array of conventional and nuclear-capable missiles which is increasing in scale and complexity and which poses significant risks from all strategic directions to security and stability across the Euro-Atlantic area We will continue to implement a coherent and balanced package of political and military measures to achieve Alliance objectives including strengthened integrated air and missile defence advanced defensive and offensive conventional capabilities steps to keep NATO's nuclear deterrent safe secure and effective efforts to support and strengthen arms control disarmament and non-proliferation intelligence and exercises We have no intention to deploy land-based nuclear missiles in Europe 27 NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence IAMD is an essential and continuous mission in peacetime crisis and times of conflict which contributes to deterrence and defence and the indivisible security and freedom of action of the Alliance including NATO's capability to reinforce and to provide a strategic response NATO IAMD incorporates all measures to contribute to deter any air and missile threat or to nullify or reduce their effectiveness This mission is conducted in a 360-degree approach and tailored to address all air and missile threats emanating from all strategic directions 28 NATO has enhanced its IAMD mission and we have taken steps to improve our IAMD forces' readiness and responsiveness in peacetime crisis and times of conflict strengthening our ability to ensure that all necessary measures are implemented for the security of the Alliance We are taking into account the increasingly diverse and challenging air and missile threats from state and non-state actors ranging from simple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs to sophisticated hypersonic missiles 29 Allies will continue to work on NATO IAMD to ensure that it remains flexible and adaptive Allies will also continue to effectively train and exercise their IAMD forces Allies have committed to improving NATO IAMD capabilities including sensors interceptors and command and control in particular through the NATO Defence Planning Process We welcome the establishment of NATO's new IAMD Centre of Excellence in Greece 30 Resilience is essential for credible deterrence and defence and the effective fulfilment of the Alliance's core tasks It is a national responsibility and a collective commitment anchored in Article 3 of the Washington Treaty Recognising the significant progress achieved since our Resilience Commitment at the 2016 Warsaw Summit we have agreed today a Strengthened Resilience Commitment that sets out further steps we intend to take in the coming years We will continue to take a whole-of-government approach to enhancing the resilience of our societies and achieving the seven NATO Baseline Requirements for national resilience through enhanced civilmilitary cooperation and civil preparedness closer engagement with our populations the private sector and non-governmental actors and the centres of expertise on resilience established by Allies We welcome the establishment of the Euro-Atlantic Centre for Resilience in Romania NATO and Allies within their respective authority will maintain and enhance the security of our critical infrastructure key industries supply chains and communication information networks including SG NATO will further strengthen its own resilience ensuring our ability to consult decide and act together We will continue to work closely with our partners and other international organisations engaged in similar efforts in order to make the Euro-Atlantic area and our broader neighbourhood more secure 31 Our nations continue to face threats and challenges from both state and non-state actors who use hybrid activities to target our political institutions our public opinion and the security of our citizens While the primary responsibility for responding to hybrid threats rests with the targeted nation NATO is ready upon Council decision to assist an Ally at any stage of a hybrid campaign being conducted against it including by deploying a Counter Hybrid Support Team In cases of hybrid warfare the Council could decide to invoke Article 5 of the Washington Treaty as in the case of an armed attack NATO and Allies will continue to prepare for deter and defend against hybrid threats Individual Allies may consider when appropriate attributing hybrid activities and responding in a coordinated manner recognising attribution is a sovereign national prerogative We are enhancing our situational awareness and expanding the tools at our disposal to counter hybrid threats including disinformation campaigns by developing comprehensive preventive and response options We will also continue to support our partners as they strengthen their resilience in the face of hybrid challenges 32 Cyber threats to the security of the Alliance are complex destructive coercive and becoming ever more frequent This has been recently illustrated by ransomware incidents and other malicious cyber activity targeting our critical infrastructure and democratic institutions which might have systemic effects and cause significant harm To face this evolving challenge we have today endorsed NATO's Comprehensive Cyber Defence Policy which will support NATO's three core tasks and overall deterrence and defence posture and further enhance our resilience Reaffirming NATO's defensive mandate the Alliance is determined to employ the full range of capabilities at all times to actively deter defend against and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats including those conducted as part of hybrid campaigns in accordance with international law We reaffirm that a decision as to when a cyber attack would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis Allies recognise that the impact of significant malicious cumulative cyber activities might in certain circumstances be considered as amounting to an armed attack We remain committed to act in accordance with international law including the UN Charter international humanitarian law and international human rights law as applicable We will promote a free open peaceful and secure cyberspace and further pursue efforts to enhance stability and reduce the risk of conflict by supporting international law and voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace We will make greater use of NATO as a platform for political consultation among Allies sharing concerns about malicious cyber activities and exchanging national approaches and responses as well as considering possible collective responses If necessary we will impose costs on those who harm us Our response need not be restricted to the cyber domain We will enhance our situational awareness to support NATO's decision-making Resilience and the ability to detect prevent mitigate and respond to vulnerabilities and intrusions is critical as demonstrated by malicious cyber actors' exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic NATO as an organisation will therefore continue to adapt and improve its cyber defences Five years since the adoption of our Cyber Defence Pledge we remain committed to uphold strong national cyber defences as a matter of priority We continue to implement cyberspace as a domain of operations We will enhance the effective integration of sovereign cyber effects provided voluntarily by Allies into collective defence and Alliance operations and missions in the framework of strong political oversight We will further seek to develop mutually beneficial and effective partnerships as appropriate including with partner countries international organisations industry and academia furthering our efforts to enhance international stability in cyberspace We welcome the recent opening of the NATO Communications and Information Academy in Portugal 33 We recognise the growing importance of space for the security and prosperity of our nations and for NATO's deterrence and defence Secure access to space services products and capabilities is essential for the conduct of the Alliance's operations missions and activities We will accelerate our work to deepen and expand our use of space as an operational domain including through the NATO Space Centre in Germany and the upcoming establishment of the Space Centre of Excellence in France which we welcome We will strengthen NATO's space domain awareness and better integrate space in our activities including training and exercises resilience and innovation efforts Consistent with the Overarching Space Policy NATO's approach to space will remain fully in line with international law We support the international efforts to promote responsible behaviour in space We consider that attacks to from or within space present a clear challenge to the security of the Alliance the impact of which could threaten national and EuroAtlantic prosperity security and stability and could be as harmful to modern societies as a conventional attack Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5 A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis 34 We continue to stand and act together in response to the challenging security environment As it continues to evolve the Alliance will continue to respond and adapt as necessary Since the Warsaw Summit we have established a forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance We continue to improve our enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia Latvia Lithuania and Poland through alignment with plans and by ensuring the ability of the four combatready battlegroups to operate with national home defence forces in an integrated manner We have increased our contributions to our tailored Forward Presence on land at sea and in the air in the Black Sea region and we remain committed to its full implementation Our assurance measures including exercises and various other air land and maritime activities remain in place and continue to provide the fundamental baseline requirement for assurance and deterrence We have increased our contributions to our tailored assurance measures for Turkey and we remain committed to their full implementation We have a range of forces including the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force which are ready to deploy on short notice to respond to any contingencies and reinforce Allies The full implementation of NATO's Framework for the South as an enduring component of NATO's deterrence and defence posture is ongoing Building on the progress achieved since 2016 including the establishment of the Hub for the South we will continue to strengthen our capacity to deal with the threats and challenges emanating from the South including in the Mediterranean Sea region and its approaches by enhancing our strategic awareness our plans and the readiness of our forces In the High North we will continue to undertake necessary calibrated and coordinated activities in support of the Alliance's security interests We will seek to strengthen cooperation with relevant and like-minded partners in the interests of NATO's agreed deterrence and defence objectives in line with NATO's decisions policies and procedures as appropriate and with consideration of political implications 35 We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all aspects of the Defence Investment Pledge agreed at the 2014 Wales Summit Fair burden sharing underpins the Alliance's cohesion solidarity credibility and ability to fulfil our fundamental Article 3 and Article 5 commitments We are individually and collectively committed to further improving the balance of sharing the costs and responsibilities of Alliance membership We have made considerable progress since the Wales Summit with seven consecutive years of real growth in non-US defence expenditure which reinforces our shared responsibility to provide capabilities to the Alliance All Allies have increased the amount they spend on defence in real terms and this trend is set to continue Since 2014 European Allies and Canada will have added 260 billion US dollars by the end of this year Furthermore ten Allies are expected to spend 2% or more of GDP on defence this year About twothirds of Allies plan to reach or exceed the 2% guideline by 2024 Additionally 24 Allies are spending more than 20% of their defence expenditures on major equipment including related research and development and according to their national plans 27 Allies will meet the 20% guideline by 2024 Our overall security and defence depend both on how much we spend and how we spend it Allies continue to make valuable force and capability contributions that benefit the security of the Euro-Atlantic area through NATO's operations missions and other activities as well as through the operations and missions conducted under national authority and the authority of other organisations Allies invest considerable resources in preparing their forces capabilities and infrastructure for Alliance activities and Allies' operations In the years ahead in line with the Defence Investment Pledge and building on the good progress to date we affirm our commitment to continue our efforts as a matter of priority across the three pillars of cash capabilities and contributions We must and will do more 36 We are investing in our military capabilities in order to meet new and enduring challenges across all operational domains We continue to deliver an array of robust and sophisticated capabilities across all domains including heavier more high-end technologically advanced bettersupported forces and capabilities at the required readiness We will continue to improve and adapt the sustainability deployability and interoperability of our capabilities for a demanding strategic environment as well as high-end operations Our national capability development plans will support the full and timely implementation of the capabilities in particular those required by the Alliance in line with the NATO Defence Planning Process In light of the pace breadth and scale of technological developments as we further develop our forces and capabilities we recognise the vital importance of research and development and innovation to exploit the opportunities and to address the challenges posed by emerging and disruptive technologies This will help to ensure individually and collectively our technological edge now and in the future We continue working to address as appropriate existing dependencies on Russian-sourced legacy military equipment through national efforts and multinational cooperation We welcome the modernisation of the NATO AWACS fleet and the progress of the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control programme as well as the initial operations of the new Alliance Ground Surveillance Force Through NATO-supported multinational cooperation projects Allies are committed to working together to develop or acquire new capabilities in key areas such as air-to-air refuelling training precision strike munitions air defence CBRN defence autonomous systems and next-generation rotorcraft capability 37 The speed of technological change has never been higher creating both new opportunities and risks in the security environment and to the way NATO operates We are determined to preserve our technological edge and ensure Alliance interoperability in order to maintain the credibility of our deterrence and defence posture We have recently taken important steps to that end building on the Emerging and Disruptive Technologies EDTs Roadmap we agreed in 2019 and have now adopted our strategy to foster and protect EDTs This strategy outlines a clear approach for identifying developing and adopting EDTs at the speed of relevance guided by principles of responsible use in accordance with international law and taking into account discussions in relevant international fora Moreover this strategy seeks to preserve our interoperability safeguard our sensitive technologies and actively address the threats and challenges posed by technological developments by others both now and in the future Drawing on the extensive innovation expertise of all 30 Allies we will further leverage our partnerships including with the private sector and academia to maintain our technological edge 38 The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territory and our populations against attack as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty No one should doubt NATO's resolve if the security of any of its members were to be threatened Faced with a highly diverse complex and demanding international security environment NATO is determined to maintain the full range of capabilities necessary to deter and defend against any threat to the safety and security of our populations wherever it should arise 39 Credible deterrence and defence is essential as a means to prevent conflict and war and will continue to be based on an appropriate mix of nuclear conventional and missile defence capabilities A robust deterrence and defence posture strengthens Alliance cohesion and provides an essential political and military transatlantic link through an equitable and sustainable distribution of roles responsibilities and burdens We acknowledge the increasingly challenging security environment with risks arising from changes in the posture doctrine and behaviour of potential adversaries and their significant investments to develop modernise and expand capabilities NATO continues to adapt and remains steadfast in its resolve to take all necessary steps to ensure that its deterrence and defence posture remains credible coherent resilient and adaptable to the security environment 40 Allies' goal is to continue to bolster deterrence as a core element of our collective defence and to contribute to the indivisible security of the Alliance As long as nuclear weapons exist NATO will remain a nuclear alliance In response to the more challenging security environment NATO has taken steps to ensure its nuclear deterrent capabilities remain safe secure and effective The strategic forces of the Alliance particularly those of the United States are the supreme guarantee of the security of Allies The independent strategic nuclear forces of the United Kingdom and France have a deterrent role of their own and contribute significantly to the overall security of the Alliance These Allies' separate centres of decision-making contribute to deterrence by complicating the calculations of potential adversaries NATO's nuclear deterrence posture also relies on United States' nuclear weapons forward-deployed in Europe and the capabilities and infrastructure provided by Allies concerned National contributions of dual-capable aircraft to NATO's nuclear deterrence mission remain central to this effort The Alliance reaffirms the imperative to ensure the broadest possible participation by Allies concerned in the agreed nuclear burden-sharing arrangements to demonstrate Alliance unity and resolve Allies concerned will continue to drive forward progress on sustaining leadership focus and institutional excellence for the nuclear deterrence mission Allies will also continue to ensure greater coherence between conventional and nuclear components of NATO's deterrence and defence posture strengthen effective strategic communications and enhance the effectiveness of NATO exercises to maintain and demonstrate a credible deterrence and reduce strategic risk NATO supports efforts towards strategic risk reduction which constitute important contributions to regional and international security In particular transparency and dialogue can help avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation 41 The fundamental purpose of NATO's nuclear capability is to preserve peace prevent coercion and deter aggression Given the deteriorating security environment in Europe a credible and united nuclear Alliance is essential Nuclear weapons are unique The circumstances in which NATO might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote NATO reiterates that any employment of nuclear weapons against NATO would fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict If the fundamental security of any of its members were to be threatened however NATO has the capabilities and resolve to impose costs on an adversary that would be unacceptable and far outweigh the benefits that any adversary could hope to achieve 42 Missile defence can complement the role of nuclear weapons in deterrence it cannot substitute them We reaffirm our commitment to continue to deliver a NATO Ballistic Missile Defence BMD capability to pursue the Alliance's core task of collective defence and to provide full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations territory and forces against the increasing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles NATO BMD is purely defensive The aim and political principles of NATO BMD remain unchanged from the 2010 Lisbon Summit These principles are the indivisibility of Allies' security and NATO solidarity equitable sharing of risks and burdens as well as reasonable challenge taking into account the level of threat affordability and technical feasibility and in accordance with the latest common threat assessments agreed by the Alliance Should international efforts reduce the threats posed by ballistic missile proliferation NATO missile defence can and will adapt accordingly 43 NATO BMD is based on voluntary national contributions including the US European Phased Adaptive Approach assets in Romania Turkey Spain and Poland as well as the NATO BMD command and control the only component eligible for common funding Additional voluntary national contributions will provide robustness We are committed to completing additional essential components of NATO BMD command and control which is necessary for achieving the next major milestone before reaching the Full Operational Capability Full Allied political control and oversight are essential and full implementation will be ensured and monitored We will continue to engage with third states on a case-by-case basis to enhance transparency build mutual confidence and increase ballistic missile defence effectiveness NATO BMD is not directed against Russia and will not undermine Russia's strategic 44 deterrence NATO BMD is intended to defend against potential threats emanating from outside the Euro-Atlantic area We have explained to Russia many times that the BMD system is not capable against Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent and there is no intention to redesign this system to have such a capability in the future Hence Russian statements threatening to target Allies because of NATO BMD are unacceptable and counterproductive Should Russia be ready to discuss BMD with NATO and subject to Alliance agreement NATO remains open to the discussion 45 Arms control disarmament and non-proliferation have made and should continue to make an essential contribution to achieving the Alliance's security objectives and for ensuring strategic stability and our collective security NATO has a long track record of doing its part on disarmament and non-proliferation After the end of the Cold War NATO dramatically reduced the number of nuclear weapons stationed in Europe and its reliance on nuclear weapons in NATO strategy We regret that the conditions for achieving disarmament have not been realised since the 2018 Brussels NATO Summit Allies remain collectively determined to uphold and support existing disarmament arms control and non-proliferation agreements and commitments We will further strengthen arms control disarmament and non-proliferation as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security taking into account the prevailing security environment We welcome and fully support the agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation to extend the New START Treaty for five years NATO Allies believe the New START Treaty contributes to international stability and Allies again express their strong support for its continued implementation and for early and active dialogue on ways to improve strategic stability Allies will welcome new strategic talks between the United States and Russia on future arms control measures taking into account all Allies' security Allies will support further arms control negotiations with the aim of improving the security of the Alliance taking into account the prevailing international security environment 46 NATO remains clear-eyed about the challenges Russia poses including the qualitative and quantitative increase of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons The Alliance will be guided by experience not least Russia's material breach of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces INF Treaty which ultimately led to the termination of that agreement NATO will continue to respond in a measured and responsible way to the significant risks posed by the Russian 9M729 missile and other short- and intermediate-range missiles to Allied security We have agreed a balanced coordinated and defensive package of measures to ensure NATO's deterrence and defence posture remains credible and effective including through potential arms control disarmament and non-proliferation contributions Russia's proposal for a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in Europe is inconsistent with Russia's unilateral and ongoing deployment of such systems on the continent and would not prevent Russia from building up such missiles outside of its European territory this proposal is therefore not credible and not acceptable At the same time NATO Allies remain open to meaningful arms control discussions and dialogue on reciprocal transparency and confidence-building measures that would take into account security interests of all Allies and increase security across the Alliance 47 The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons NPT remains the essential bulwark against the spread of nuclear weapons the cornerstone of the global nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament architecture and the framework for international cooperation in sharing the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy science and technology Allies remain strongly committed to the full implementation of the NPT in all its aspects as an irreplaceable platform and the strengthening of the NPT across its mutually reinforcing three pillars We are committed to working towards a meaningful outcome at the upcoming Tenth Review Conference which presents a major opportunity to contribute to the preservation universalisation and full implementation of the NPT The Alliance reaffirms its resolve to seek a safer world for all and to take further practical steps and effective measures to create the conditions for further nuclear disarmament negotiations NATO Allies support the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons in full accordance with all provisions of the NPT including Article VI in an ever more effective and verifiable way that promotes international stability and is based on the principle of undiminished security for all NATO's nuclear arrangements have always been fully consistent with the NPT which remains the only credible path to nuclear disarmament The enduring success of the NPT cannot be taken for granted and requires sustained effort to further its achievements In this spirit we call on all NPT States Parties to work together towards a successful Tenth Review Conference We reiterate our opposition to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons TPNW which is inconsistent with the Alliance's nuclear deterrence policy is at odds with the existing non-proliferation and disarmament architecture risks undermining the NPT and does not take into account the current security environment The TPNW does not change the legal obligations on our countries with respect to nuclear weapons We do not accept any argument that the TPNW reflects or in any way contributes to the development of customary international law We call on our partners and all other countries to reflect realistically on the ban treaty's impact on international peace and security including on the NPT and join us in working to improve collective security through tangible and verifiable measures that can reduce strategic risks and enable lasting progress on nuclear disarmament 48 While NATO is not itself party to any arms control agreement Allies will make best use of NATO as an important platform for in-depth discussion and close consultations on arms control efforts that will support Alliance unity political cohesion and solidarity We continue actively to address the collapse of the INF Treaty due to Russian actions and we are committed to maintain appropriate consultations among Allies on these issues We remain deeply concerned by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons 49 of mass destruction WMD as well as their means of delivery and related materials by states and non-state actors which represents a growing threat to our populations territory and forces We condemn in the strongest possible terms the repeated use of chemical weapons in Syria as well as use in Iraq Russia Malaysia and for the first time since NATO's foundation on Allied territory the United Kingdom The use of chemical weapons anywhere at any time by anyone for any reason is unacceptable There can be no impunity for those who use chemical weapons We therefore welcome as an important step towards accountability the decision by the April 2021 Conference of the State Parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention CWC to suspend Syria's rights and privileges under the ewe We are determined to uphold the ewe and the global norm against the development production stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and to hold those who use chemical weapons accountable for their actions including through our joint commitment within the International Partnership Against the Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons We support the full implementation of the ewe and the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons OPCW in addressing WMD threats and condemn those who seek to impede its work NATO remains committed to ensuring that Allies can protect their populations forces and territories against CBRN threats including through reviewing NATO's Comprehensive Strategic Level Policy for Preventing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Defending against CBRN Threats We are united in our resolve to promote the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty We underline the need to bring the treaty into force and we support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission including the International Data Centre and International Monitoring System We call for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive devices in accordance with Conference on Disarmament report CD 1299 and the mandate contained therein In the meantime the Alliance calls on all states to declare and maintain voluntary moratoria on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices 50 We remain committed to conventional arms control as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security We are determined to preserve strengthen and modernise conventional arms control in Europe based on key principles and commitments including reciprocity transparency and host nation consent Russia's continuing aggressive military posture its refusal to fully comply with its obligations under the Treaty on Open Skies its ongoing selective implementation of the Vienna Document and its long-standing failure to implement the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe continue to undermine security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area Allies call on Russia to return to full implementation of and compliance with the letter and spirit of all of its international obligations and commitments which is essential to rebuilding trust and confidence military transparency and increasing predictability in the Euro-Atlantic region We specifically call on Russia to be open and transparent about its no-notice snap exercises large-scale exercises and large-scale troop movements in accordance with its Vienna Document commitments particularly in light of its recent unprovoked and unjustified military build-up in and around Ukraine Allies underscore the importance of modernising the Vienna Document and welcome the broad support for its comprehensive modernisation package We look forward to intensified discussions in the Forum for Security Cooperation leading to consensus on an updated Vienna Document at the 2021 OSCE Ministerial To maintain the contributions of the Treaty on Open Skies to the security of all State Parties it is essential that all State Parties fully implement its provisions We will continue to actively support ongoing discussions at the OSCE including the Structured Dialogue We call on Russia to engage constructively on all these efforts 51 We reiterate the Alliance's full support to the goal of the complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea in accordance with relevant UNSCRs We call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea DPRK to engage in meaningful negotiations with the United States towards achieving this goal We urge the DPRK to fully implement its international obligations to eliminate its nuclear chemical and biological warfare capabilities and ballistic missiles to return to the NPT and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA and to abandon all related programmes We call on nations to fully implement existing UN sanctions 52 We are committed to ensuring that Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon We welcome the substantive discussions between Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action UCPoA participants and separately with the United States to accomplish a mutual return to compliance with the JCPoA by the United States and Iran We support the goal of restoring the non-proliferation benefits of the JCPoA and of ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme It is vital that Iran preserves the space for these discussions by avoiding any further escalation We strongly support the IAEA in its crucial monitoring and verification work to help ensure Iran's compliance with the NPT-related safeguards obligations as well as its other commitments A restored and fully implemented JCPoA could also pave the way to further address regional and security concerns including in support of the non-proliferation regime We condemn Iran's support to proxy forces and non-state armed actors including through financing training and the proliferation of missile technology and weapons We call on Iran to stop all ballistic missile activities inconsistent with UNSCR 2231 refrain from destabilising actions and play a constructive role in fostering regional stability and peace Syria retains an inventory of short-range ballistic missiles whose range covers parts of NATO's territory and some of our partners' territories Syria has used these missiles extensively against its own population We remain vigilant over missile launches from Syria which could again hit or target Turkey We continue to monitor and assess the ballistic missile threat from Syria The increasing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles in the vicinity of the southeastern border of the Alliance has been and remains a driver in NATO's development and deployment of a ballistic missile defence system which is configured to counter threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area 53 The conflict in Syria has entered its eleventh year and continues to have significant consequences on the stability of the region and the security of NATO's south-eastern border We remain concerned and vigilant over its ramifications We reiterate our determination to defend NATO territory and borders against any threats and to address challenges emanating from Syria The presidential elections held on 26 May 2021 by the Syrian regime cannot be considered as free and fair and do not contribute to the efforts to achieve a political solution We underline that stability and security cannot be reinstated in Syria without a genuine political process in line with UNSCR 2254 We call for a nationwide ceasefire and the reauthorisation and expansion of the UN cross-border humanitarian assistance for a period of at least 12 months in order to meet the needs of the Syrian people We reiterate our appreciation to our Ally Turkey for hosting millions of Syrian refugees 54 Allies remain deeply concerned about developments in Belarus since August 2020 The policies and actions of Belarus have implications for regional stability and have violated the principles which underpin our partnership NATO will remain vigilant of and monitor the implications for the security of the Alliance The unacceptable diversion of a civilian aircraft in May 2021 and the subsequent arrest of a journalist and his partner travelling on board endangered the safety of civilians and was a grave affront to political dissent and freedom of the press We support the independent investigations including by the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO We support measures taken by Allies individually and collectively in response to this incident We call on Belarus to abide by international law respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners including those belonging to the Union of Poles in Belarus A democratic sovereign and stable Belarus is in all of our interests Allies stand ready for a mutually beneficial NATO-Belarus partnership taking into account political and security conditions We will follow the scale scope and aftermath of the Zapad-2021 exercise and continue to call on Russia and Belarus to act in a predictable transparent way in compliance with their international obligations and OSCE commitments 55 China's stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rulesbased international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security We are concerned by those coercive policies which stand in contrast to the fundamental values enshrined in the Washington Treaty China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and a larger number of sophisticated delivery systems to establish a nuclear triad It is opaque in implementing its military modernisation and its publicly declared military-civil fusion strategy It is also cooperating militarily with Russia including through participation in Russian exercises in the Euro-Atlantic area We remain concerned with China's frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation We call on China to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system including in the space cyber and maritime domains in keeping with its role as a major power 56 NATO maintains a constructive dialogue with China where possible Based on our interests we welcome opportunities to engage with China on areas of relevance to the Alliance and on common challenges such as climate change There is value in information exchange on respective policies and activities to enhance awareness and discuss potential disagreements Allies urge China to engage meaningfully in dialogue confidence-building and transparency measures regarding its nuclear capabilities and doctrine Reciprocal transparency and understanding would benefit both NATO and China 57 We are working together as an Alliance and with like-minded partners in particular with the European Union to protect critical infrastructure strengthen resilience maintain our technological edge and address these challenges to the rules-based international order 58 Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our times It is a threat multiplier that impacts Allied security both in the Euro-Atlantic area and in the Alliance's broader neighbourhood Climate change puts our resilience and civil preparedness to the test affects our planning and the resilience of our military installations and critical infrastructure and may create harsher conditions for our operations Today we have endorsed an Action Plan to implement our NATO Agenda on Climate Change and Security which increases our awareness adaptation mitigation and outreach efforts while ensuring a credible deterrence and defence posture and upholding the priorities of the safety of military personnel and operational and cost effectiveness To increase awareness NATO will conduct annual assessments of the impact of climate change on its strategic environment as well as on missions and operations To adapt to climate change NATO will incorporate climate change considerations into its full spectrum of work ranging from defence planning and capability development to civil preparedness and exercises To contribute to the mitigation of climate change drawing on best practices of Allies and taking into account their different national circumstances NATO will develop a mapping methodology to help Allies measure greenhouse gas emissions from military activities and installations which could contribute to formulating voluntary goals to reduce such emissions NATO will also strengthen exchanges with partner countries as well as with international and regional organisations that are active on climate change and security issues 59 Energy security plays an important role in our common security A stable and reliable energy supply the diversification of routes suppliers and energy resources including the integration of sustainable energy sources and the interconnectivity of energy networks are all of critical importance and increase our resilience against political and economic pressure It is essential to ensure that the members of the Alliance are not vulnerable to political or coercive manipulation of energy which constitutes a potential threat Allies will therefore continue to seek further diversification of their energy supplies in line with their needs and conditions While these issues are primarily the responsibility of national authorities energy developments can have significant political and security implications for Allies and also affect our partners Consequently we will continue to enhance our strategic awareness including through regular Allied consultations and intelligence sharing and will strengthen our links with relevant international organisations We will further develop NATO's capacity to support national authorities in protecting critical infrastructure including against malicious hybrid and cyber activity We will ensure reliable energy supplies to our military forces 60 NATO has long recognised the importance of Human Security which focuses on risks and threats to populations in conflict or crisis areas and how to mitigate and respond to them Taking a Human Security approach is a reflection of our values and makes us more operationally effective We are committed to ensuring that all efforts are made to avoid minimise and mitigate any potential negative effects on civilians arising from our missions or activities as underscored in our Policy for the Protection of Civilians Today we endorse NATO's new Policy on Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence a landmark demonstration of our commitment to addressing such violence which inflicts long-term stigma and trauma on individuals and families contributes to their marginalisation destroys the social fabric of communities triggers displacement fuels armed actors' activities fosters prolonged conflict and instability and is an impediment to sustainable peace and reconciliation We are updating our policy on combating trafficking in human beings Our ongoing work on Human Security also includes Children and Armed Conflict and Cultural Property Protection NATO will continue to work with its partners international organisations and civil society to further our Human Security agenda which includes robust policies and clear operational guidelines in support of lasting peace and security and our populations' common defence 61 Recognising the critical importance of women's full equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and stability as well as the disproportionate impact that conflict has on women and girls including conflict-related sexual violence we are committed to fully implementing the Women Peace and Security agenda set out by the UN Security Council NATO's Policy and Action Plan on Women Peace and Security better prepare the Alliance to address the challenges of today and tomorrow NATO's Policy on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse agreed in 2019 reinforces our commitment to hold ourselves to the highest standards of behaviour in keeping with our values Working together with partners international organisations and civil society we will consistently continue to implement our policy on Women Peace and Security and in this context we will advance gender equality and integrate gender perspectives and foster the principles of the Women Peace and Security agenda in all that we do including in NATO operations missions and activities 62 We remain committed to NATO's Building Integrity Policy and Programme Corruption and poor governance undermine democracy the rule of law and economic development thus constituting challenges to our security Implementing measures to improve integrity building to fight against corruption and to foster good governance is of continued importance for NATO Allies and partners alike 63 NATO's partnerships are and will continue to be essential to the way NATO works The success of NATO's partnerships is demonstrated by their strategic contribution to Alliance and international security They play an important role in supporting NATO's three core tasks and our 360-degree security approach They are central to advancing NATO's cooperative security agenda helping to shape our security environment and contributing to stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and to the pursuit of NATO's political and military objectives We remain committed to the principles underpinning our relations with our partners and have taken steps to make our partnerships more strategic more coherent and more effective The Alliance's partner relationships are also based on reciprocity mutual benefit and mutual respect We will strengthen political dialogue and practical cooperation with our partners We are grateful to our partners for their significant contributions to NATO's situational awareness operations missions and activities including Trust Fund projects We recognise their sacrifices for Euro-Atlantic and international security over the years We will continue to improve interoperability in particular with our Enhanced Opportunities Partners Recognising that conflict and instability in NATO's neighbourhood directly undermine Allied security we will continue to intensify NATO's assistance and capacity building support to our partners We reaffirm our commitment to expand political dialogue and practical cooperation with any nation that shares the Alliance's values and interest in international peace and security and will further develop our partnerships so that they continue to meet the interests of both Allies and partners In line with our Comprehensive Approach Action Plan we will continue to pursue coherence within NATO's own tools and strands of work concerted approaches with partner nations and organisations such as the UN the EU and the OSCE as well as further dialogue with non-governmental organisations 64 The European Union remains a unique and essential partner for NATO The NATO-EU strategic partnership is essential for the security and prosperity of our nations and of the EuroAtlantic area NATO recognises the importance of a stronger and more capable European defence The development of coherent complementary and interoperable defence capabilities avoiding unnecessary duplication is key in our joint efforts to make the Euro-Atlantic area safer Such efforts including recent developments will lead to a stronger NATO help enhance our common security contribute to transatlantic burden sharing help deliver needed capabilities and support an overall increase in defence spending Non-EU Allies continue to make significant contributions to the EU's efforts to strengthen its capacities to address common security challenges For the strategic partnership between NATO and the EU non-EU Allies' fullest involvement in these efforts is essential We look forward to mutual steps representing tangible progress in this area to support a strengthened strategic partnership We reaffirm in their entirety all the decisions principles and commitments with regard to NATO and EU cooperation We will continue to further strengthen our strategic partnership in a spirit of full mutual openness transparency complementarity and respect for the organisations' different mandates decision-making autonomy and institutional integrity and as agreed by the two organisations 65 NATO-EU cooperation has reached unprecedented levels with tangible results in countering hybrid and cyber threats strategic communication operational cooperation including maritime issues military mobility defence capabilities defence industry and research exercises counter-terrorism and defence and security capacity building Political dialogue between NATO and the EU remains essential to advance this cooperation We will continue to develop and deepen our cooperation by fully implementing the common set of 74 proposals which contribute to the coherence and complementarity of our efforts The current strategic environment and the COVID pandemic underscore the importance of NATO-EU cooperation in the face of current and evolving security challenges in particular in addressing resilience issues emerging and disruptive technologies the security implications of climate change disinformation and the growing geostrategic competition The ongoing distinct strategic processes within NATO and the EU offer a unique opportunity to intensify further our consultations and cooperation to enhance the security of our citizens and promote peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond while reaffirming that NATO remains the transatlantic framework for strong collective defence and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions among Allies We value the Secretary General's continued close cooperation with the President of the European Council the President of the European Commission and the High Representative on all aspects of the NATO-EU strategic partnership 66 We reaffirm our commitment to NATO's Open Door Policy under Article 10 of the Washington Treaty which has been a historic success North Macedonia's accession last year is yet another tangible demonstration of this commitment Successive rounds of enlargement have strengthened Euro-Atlantic security by helping to spread and consolidate the rule of law and democratic institutions and practices across the European continent and have respected the right of all states to seek their own security arrangements as enshrined in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe NATO's door remains open to all European democracies which share the values of our Alliance which are willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership which are in a position to further the principles of the Treaty and whose inclusion can contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area Decisions on enlargement are for NATO itself no third party has a say in that process We remain committed to the integration of those countries that aspire to join the Alliance judging each on its own merits We encourage them to continue to implement the necessary reforms and decisions to prepare for membership We will continue to offer support to their efforts and look to them to take the steps necessary to advance their aspirations 67 Allies strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a stable and secure Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other relevant international agreements encourage domestic reconciliation and urge political leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric We commend Bosnia and Herzegovina an aspirant country for its contributions to NATO-led operations We are committed to maintaining strong political dialogue with Bosnia and Herzegovina and offer our continued support to the implementation of all reform efforts including through NATO HQ Sarajevo We encourage the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take full advantage of the breadth of NATO cooperative security and partnership tools Allies welcome the work of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO Allies urge political leaders to work constructively and to demonstrate political will for the benefit of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina in advancing Euro-Atlantic aspirations by implementing the much-needed political electoral rule of law economic and defence reforms including through the country's Reform Programme with NATO without prejudice to a final decision on NATO membership 68 We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan MAP as an integral part of the process we reaffirm all elements of that decision as well as subsequent decisions including that each partner will be judged on its own merits We stand firm in our support for Georgia's right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference As an Enhanced Opportunities Partner Georgia is cooperating closely with the Alliance across a wide range of issues We highly appreciate Georgia's substantial contributions to NATO operations which demonstrate its commitment and capability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security We welcome the recent political agreement on the Way Ahead for Georgia and encourage its full implementation by all sides This agreement paves the way for the important reforms which will help Georgia an aspirant country progress in its preparations towards membership We remain committed to making full use of the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Annual National Programme in deepening political dialogue and cooperation We commend the significant progress on reforms which Georgia has made and must continue to make and which have helped Georgia strengthen its defence capabilities and interoperability with the Alliance Georgia's relationship with the Alliance contains all the practical tools to prepare for eventual membership We are working closely with Georgia on security in the Black Sea region in response to Russia's increasingly destabilising activities and welcome the steps taken to implement the refreshed Substantial NATOGeorgia Package We stand ready to enhance our support to Georgia including in building resilience against hybrid threats in training and exercises and in secure communications We look forward to the next NATO-Georgia exercise in 2022 69 We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan MAP as an integral part of the process we reaffirm all elements of that decision as well as subsequent decisions including that each partner will be judged on its own merits We stand firm in our support for Ukraine's right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference The Annual National Programmes under the NATO-Ukraine Commission NUC remain the mechanism by which Ukraine takes forward the reforms pertaining to its aspiration for NATO membership Ukraine should make full use of all instruments available under the NUC to reach its objective of implementing NATO principles and standards The success of wide-ranging sustainable and irreversible reforms including combating corruption promoting an inclusive political process and decentralisation reform based on democratic values respect for human rights minorities and the rule of law will be crucial in laying the groundwork for a prosperous and peaceful Ukraine Further reforms in the security sector including the reform of the Security Services of Ukraine are particularly important We welcome significant reforms already made by Ukraine and strongly encourage further progress in line with Ukraine's international obligations and commitments We will continue to provide practical support to reform in the security and defence sector including through the Comprehensive Assistance Package We will also continue to support Ukraine's efforts to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats including through intensifying activities under the NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare We welcome the cooperation between NATO and Ukraine with regard to security in the Black Sea region The Enhanced Opportunities Partner status granted last year provides further impetus to our already ambitious cooperation and will promote greater interoperability with the option of more joint exercises training and enhanced situational awareness Military cooperation and capacity building initiatives between Allies and Ukraine including the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade further reinforce this effort We highly value Ukraine's significant contributions to Allied operations the NATO Response Force and NATO exercises 70 The Western Balkans is a region of strategic importance for NATO as highlighted by our long history of cooperation and operations NATO remains strongly committed to the security and stability of the Western Balkans and to supporting the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the countries in the region We will intensify our efforts in the region and enhance our political dialogue and practical cooperation in order to support reform efforts promote regional peace and security and counter the malign influence of outside actors Democratic values the rule of law domestic reforms and good neighbourly relations are vital for regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration and we look to continued progress in this regard We value the NATO-Serbia partnership Strengthening NATO-Serbia relations would be of benefit to the Alliance to Serbia and to the whole region We support the EU-facilitated Dialogue and other efforts aimed at the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina and urge the sides to seize the moment and engage in good faith towards reaching a lasting political solution 71 We remain committed to NATO's continued engagement in Kosovo including through the NATO-led Kosovo Force KFOR which contributes to a safe and secure environment and to wider stability in the Western Balkans and through ongoing capacity building efforts with the Kosovo security organisations Any changes to our force posture in KFOR remain conditions-based and not calendar-driven 72 The Alliance's close and mutually beneficial security cooperation with our Enhanced Opportunities Partners Finland and Sweden which share our values and contribute to NATO-led operations and missions has grown across a wide range of areas We will continue to strengthen our ability to respond rapidly and effectively to any common challenges and to work together on enhancing our resilience and civil preparedness We will bolster our regular and open political dialogue and cooperation in support of our common security including by crisis management preparation exercises and exchanging information and analysis notably on the security situation in the Baltic Sea region We will work more closely with all our Western European partners to share expertise 73 address emerging security challenges and continue our cooperation on operations missions and other initiatives We will also seek to further develop relations with our partners across the globe We are enhancing political dialogue and practical cooperation with our long-standing Asia-Pacific partners -Australia Japan New Zealand and the Republic of Korea - to promote cooperative security and support the rules-based international order We will discuss common approaches to global security challenges where NATO's interests are affected share perspectives through deeper political engagement and seek concrete areas for cooperation to address shared concerns We are intensifying our interaction with Colombia NATO's partner in Latin America on good governance military training interoperability demining and maritime security We remain open to deepening our political dialogue and intensifying our practical cooperation with our partners in Central Asia taking into account the regional situation We welcome the interest of other global actors to work with NATO in addressing our shared security concerns and stand ready to explore further engagement on a case-by-case basis We are committed to enhancing our long-standing engagement in the Middle East and 74 North Africa MENA region We will strengthen our political dialogue and practical cooperation with our Mediterranean Dialogue MD and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative ICI partners This will build stronger security and defence institutions and capacities promote interoperability and help to counter terrorism We have upgraded our defence capacity building assistance to Jordan our Enhanced Opportunities Partner to include additional counter-terrorism support and have contributed to the establishment of the new Military Women's Training Centre We will continue our engagement with Tunisia on defence capacity building We will leverage the NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait as an important hub for education training and public diplomacy activities and we remain open to the potential establishment of other education and training centres with interested MENA countries Our Regional Hub for the South in Naples is making tangible progress in implementing its four functions and contributing to our situational awareness and understanding We will continue to engage with the African Union and further develop our relations with the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council in order to enhance our ability to better address mutual security concerns 75 The deteriorating situation in the Sahel region matters to NATO's collective security This region is a theatre of complex and interconnected challenges NATO's approach to the Sahel is currently focused on our long-standing partnership with Mauritania and we are looking into providing additional advice and training support We will also continue to engage in dialogue with relevant NATO partners representatives from the Sahel region international and regional organisations and entities such as the African Union the GS Sahel structures the UN and the EU as well as with the Coalition for the Sahel NATO will enhance its engagement with the GS Sahel structures and remains open upon request to consider further engagements in the region 76 The crisis in Libya has direct implications for regional stability and the security of all Allies We welcome the progress achieved in Libya including the recent endorsement of the interim Government of National Unity GNU and Presidency Council We commend the UN efforts in support of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process aimed at promoting national reconciliation as well as unifying and strengthening state institutions We call on all the relevant Libyan authorities and institutions including the GNU and the House of Representatives to take actions set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum roadmap and to make the necessary preparations for free fair and inclusive national Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021 We fully support the implementation of UNSCRs 2570 and 2571 and the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement In accordance with our Summit decisions we remain committed to providing advice to Libya upon its request in the area of defence and security institution building taking into account political and security conditions 77 NATO is an Alliance that constantly modernises and adapts to new threats and challenges NATO is also adapting as an institution To enhance our political-military coherence and situational awareness we have restructured the activities of the NATO Headquarters and established a Chief Information Officer function We welcome and will continue progress towards an optimised NATO intelligence enterprise better postured to provide timely and relevant support to Alliance operations and decision-making on contemporary and future challenges We will also further strengthen the security of our cyber and communications systems and continue to protect the Alliance against espionage attempts We will continuously pursue greater coherence improved effectiveness and new efficiencies in support of the flexibility and responsiveness we need as an Alliance 78 We express our deep appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to NATO by the Government and the people of Belgium for over five decades and to us today on the occasion of our Summit meeting at NATO Headquarters We pay tribute to all the men and women in uniform who continue to work daily for our collective security And we extend a special word of thanks to all those who made it possible for us to have a safe and productive Summit meeting despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including the NATO medical personnel and the Polish Medical Emergency Detachment 79 With our decisions today we have opened a new chapter in the transatlantic relationship and set the direction for the Alliance's continued adaptation towards 2030 and beyond We look forward to meeting again in Spain in 2022 followed by our next meeting in Lithuania