On 22 October 2009, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed the process of developing the Alliance’s new Strategic Concept in a keynote speech at the security conference in Bratislava.
Mr. Rasmussen pointed to newer challenges such as global terrorism, climate change and threats to energy security that have created the need for a new Strategic Concept. Reaching consensus within NATO on whether and how to respond to such challenges has become increasingly difficult, he said.
The Secretary General also stressed the need for continued military transformation, “…to allow us to cover the full spectrum of tasks, from collective defense to peace support operations.” And in the context of the current financial crisis, he said it was all the more pressing to make efficient use of resources through better cooperation, coordination and collective solutions.
The new Concept must include a “Comprehensive Approach”, promoting better coordination with other international actors such as the United Nations, the European Union and the NGO community. It should also “…reaffirm a long-standing NATO objective: to help complete the consolidation of Europe as a continent that is whole, free and at peace. NATO’s open door policy will continue,” said Mr. Rasmussen.
On relations with Russia, he said that we must not let differences between NATO and Russia hold the relationship hostage, because they share a number of common interests such as in Afghanistan, combating terrorism and preventing nuclear proliferation.
Mr. Rasmussen pointed to newer challenges such as global terrorism, climate change and threats to energy security that have created the need for a new Strategic Concept. Reaching consensus within NATO on whether and how to respond to such challenges has become increasingly difficult, he said.
The Secretary General also stressed the need for continued military transformation, “…to allow us to cover the full spectrum of tasks, from collective defense to peace support operations.” And in the context of the current financial crisis, he said it was all the more pressing to make efficient use of resources through better cooperation, coordination and collective solutions.
The new Concept must include a “Comprehensive Approach”, promoting better coordination with other international actors such as the United Nations, the European Union and the NGO community. It should also “…reaffirm a long-standing NATO objective: to help complete the consolidation of Europe as a continent that is whole, free and at peace. NATO’s open door policy will continue,” said Mr. Rasmussen.
On relations with Russia, he said that we must not let differences between NATO and Russia hold the relationship hostage, because they share a number of common interests such as in Afghanistan, combating terrorism and preventing nuclear proliferation.
