The Chair of the NATO Military Committee (MC), Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, says that Russia’s war against Ukraine “remains brutal and directly affects the security” of allies.
Opening the spring session of the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence format on Tuesday in Brussels at NATO Headquarters, he said:
“The Alliance remains vigilant 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on all fronts, from east to south to the far north, including the Arctic. Since our last meeting in this format in January, new crises have emerged. Existing crises have deepened, and the security environment has become even more complex.”
The NATO Military Committee Chair noted that Russia’s war against Ukraine has already been ongoing for five years.
“I was in Ukraine three weeks ago, and I can confirm that this war remains brutal, has consequences, and directly affects our security,” Dragone stressed.
According to him, “instability and violence persist in NATO’s southern neighbourhood, hybrid threats continue in the form of cyberattacks, sabotage, disinformation, and the malicious use of new technologies.”
“So this is a moment for clarity, discipline, and action… Our deterrence and readiness are stronger, our awareness is sharper, and thanks to defence investment commitments made at the last summer summit in The Hague, we are on the right track,” Dragone said.
Outlining the agenda of the meeting, the admiral listed that discussions would cover “posture, plans, capabilities, innovation, and adaptation.”
“We are doing this as NATO Chiefs of Defence. We will hear from our military colleagues from Ukraine (via video conference) and the European Union. And we will engage with the NATO Secretary General on the links between our work and the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara,” added the NATO Military Committee Chair.
