#NATO: Latest News

German Air Force deploys jets to Iceland for high-north training

The German air force has sent fighter aircraft to Iceland for the first time in over a decade as part of a rapid deployment exercise. From 28 July to 10 August, six German Eurofighters and 50 personnel are deployed to Keflavik air base from where the squadron will conduct up to eight practice flights daily. Coordinated by NATO’s Control and Reporting Centre in Keflavik, exercise “Rapid Viking” will help familiarise German aircrews with Iceland’s airspace and flying in arctic conditions. The Luftwaffe last deployed to Iceland in 2012 as part of NATO’s peacetime air-policing mission.

NATO Allies support Slovenia following deadly flooding

NATO Allies are providing support to Slovenia after record rainfall starting last Friday triggered severe flooding affecting two-thirds of the country. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke by phone with Prime Minister Robert Golob on Monday (7 August 2023), expressing his condolences and NATO’s strong solidarity with Slovenia.

Italy and Spain take lead of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission

On Thursday (3 August 2023), the Portuguese and Romanian fighter jet detachments at Šiauliai, Lithuania and the UK Royal Air Force detachment at Ämari, Estonia ended their four-month rotation of Baltic Air Policing, handing the baton to incoming detachments of Eurofighters from Italy and Spain. NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission has helped to secure the skies over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since the three nations joined the Alliance in 2004.

NATO Innovation Fund closes on EUR 1bn flagship fund

Twenty-three NATO Allies have officially become Limited Partners of the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), which is preparing to make its initial investments later this year. The Participating Allies¹ have also welcomed Sweden's interest to join the NIF. Sweden's participation will take effect upon its accession to the North Atlantic Treaty.

From intern to innovator – meet NATO’s Moritz Zimmermann

Moritz Zimmermann started at NATO as an intern. Now, he’s the Deputy Chief of Staff of a team establishing the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. DIANA is NATO’s new body working with leading researchers and entrepreneurs across the Alliance, helping them develop technologies to keep NATO populations safe and secure. We spoke to Moritz about the big tech challenges facing the Alliance, how DIANA will tackle them and what it’s like to be part of a new generation of innovators at NATO.

NATO-Ukraine Council addresses serious security situation in the Black Sea

The NATO-Ukraine Council met on Wednesday (26 July 2023) to address the serious security situation in the Black Sea region following Russia’s unilateral termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convened the meeting following a request for crisis consultation from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană chaired the Council.

NATO Deputy Secretary General discusses NATO Summit outcomes at the Aspen Security Forum

Speaking at the 14th annual Aspen Security Forum on Thursday (20 July 2023), Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană outlined the major decisions taken at the recent Vilnius Summit to strengthen NATO and ensure its ongoing adaption to a more dangerous world.

NATO Secretary General meets President of Serbia to discuss challenges in northern Kosovo

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia in Brussels on Wednesday (19 July 2023) in order to discuss tensions in northern Kosovo. Mr Stoltenberg called the recent violence against KFOR peacekeepers unacceptable, underlining that KFOR has deployed 500 additional troops to Kosovo and stands ready to act as necessary, in line with its UN mandate. He underlined that all parties must prevent any renewed escalation, and engage constructively in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Secretary General to Ukraine Defense Contact Group: NATO support will continue for as long as it takes

Participating in a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Tuesday (18 July 2023) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg outlined the major decisions taken at the Vilnius Summit to support Ukraine for the long haul.

Allies approve NATO’s first Policy on the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict; strengthen Policy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings

Children are regular targets and victims of grave human rights violations during armed conflicts. At the Vilnius Summit (11-12 July 2023), Allies approved NATO’s first Policy on the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict, stepping up NATO’s contributions to international efforts under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005).