NATO’s defense ministers are meeting today and tomorrow via secure video conference to discuss matters affecting “Alliance security,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday during a press conference. One of the four key issues to be discussed, Stoltenberg said, is “Boosting the resilience of our societies.” What this indicates is that NATO is going beyond an alliance dealing strictly with military matters to one delving into economic and social policies as well.
“We have already updated NATO’s baseline requirements for national resilience, including on 5G and telecommunications, cyber threats, the security of supply chains and the consequences of foreign ownership and control,” Stoltenberg said. “But we must do more because our militaries rely on civilian infrastructure, services and resources and we cannot have strong armies without strong societies.”
“Ministers will receive a report assessing vulnerabilities across the Alliance, for instance in areas such as access to civilian infrastructure for our military forces in crisis or conflict,” Stoltenberg continued, “and they will discuss how we can strengthen our resilience pledge when NATO leaders meet next year.”
