NATO considers its future in Strategic Concept document
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shared his thoughts on the upcoming Strategic Concept document. (Photo: NATO)
Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, outlined NATO’s next Strategic Concept document at the Riga Public Diplomacy Conference on 30 November.
NATO’s strategic concept document will set out how NATO will deal with a more unpredictable and competitive world. NATO leaders will endorse the document at the Madrid Summit in June 2022.
Gen Stoltenberg highlighted five elements that should be at the heart of the next Strategic Concept: protecting our values; reinforcing our military power; strengthening our societies; taking a global outlook; and building NATO as the institutional link between Europe and North America.
NATO’s values are defined by Stoltenberg as the organisation’s purpose; to defend democracy, freedom and the rule of law. The 6 January Capitol Riots are given as an example of these values in decline.
The second element, military power, is framed in comparison to the 2010 Strategic Concept which stated that ‘the Euro-Atlantic area is at peace’, Russian aggression has since changed the strategic landscape.
The third element is framed in comparison to military power, as while the threat from Russia and China is increasing, modern states are interdependent and relations must be maintained.
Taking a global outlook references the importance of international allies, not just NATO states.
Finally, building NATO as the link between Europe and North America has been topical recently, as factors such as increased European military links may reduce NATO’s prominent position.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation]()
Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation
European law enforcement and public security agencies are entering a new cycle of investment in personal protection equipment (PPE), driven by evolving threat profiles, officer welfare requirements and advances in materials technology.
-
![The speed of relevance: how companies can navigate the new era of European defence procurement]()
The speed of relevance: how companies can navigate the new era of European defence procurement
European militaries face a rapidly evolving security landscape and defence production must accelerate to meet surging demand for platforms and equipment. Industry needs to adapt to ensure it gets its products into the hands of the end user, Evelyn Rafferty, Senior Director Aerospace and Defence - Europe at Plexus told Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.
-
![Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities]()
Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities
Eurosatory 2026 will reflect a defence and security sector shaped by conflict, rising government spending, uncrewed systems, multidomain networks and growing demand for sovereign capabilities.
-
![Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP]()
Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP
The UK defence secretary’s departure suggests that the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is unlikely to meet the funding demands of the armed forces, with consequences for procurement and the UK’s standing at a NATO summit weeks away.
