Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government (2022 NATO Summit), Madrid, 30 June 2022.

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

Good afternoon.

We have just concluded a transformative Summit with NATO’s Heads of State and Government.
With far-reaching decisions to adapt our Alliance for the future.

We agreed on a fundamental shift in our deterrence and defence.
We agreed to invite Finland and Sweden to join our Alliance.
And we agreed on long-term support for Ukraine.

We agreed NATO’s new Strategic Concept.
We agreed to step up in the fight climate change.
And to establish a new one billion Innovation Fund.
We agreed to invest more in NATO and to increase NATO’s common funded budgets.
And we agreed to deepen our relationships with some of the Alliance’s closest partners, not least in the Indo-Pacific.

Our final session at the Madrid Summit focused on threats and challenges from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel.
Insecurity in these regions has a direct impact on the security of all Allies.
And our new Strategic Concept identifies terrorism as one of the main threats to our security.

Today, we reviewed our progress in the fight against terrorism.
In all its forms and manifestations.
And we reconfirmed our commitment to continue the fight with determination and solidarity.
Including through intelligence sharing and support for our partners.

NATO’s training mission in Iraq is helping to prevent the return of ISIS.
For the first time, we have just agreed a defence capacity-building package for Mauritania.
Helping to address border security, irregular migration, and terrorism.

We have also agreed additional capacity building support for Tunisia.
And to continue supporting Jordan.

We also addressed the global food crisis, which is a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The impact is severe.
Including on some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

Food prices are hitting record highs.
And many countries depend on Ukraine for substantial wheat and other food imports.

So Allies discussed their efforts to mitigate the crisis.
And get grain out of Ukraine, by land and on sea.

We also addressed how Russia and China continue to seek political, economic, and military gain across our southern neighbourhood.
Both Moscow and Beijing are using economic leverage, coercion, and hybrid approaches to advance their interests in the region.

So today, we discussed how to address this growing challenge.
Including with even more support for NATO’s partners in the region.

We face the most serious security situation in decades.
But we are rising to the challenge with unity and resolve.

The decisions we have taken in Madrid will ensure that our Alliance continues to preserve peace, prevent conflict, and protect our people and our values.
Europe and North America, standing together in NATO.

Let me close by thanking Prime Minister Sánchez, the Spanish government and the people of Madrid for hosting this historic Summit.
An excellent way to mark 40 years of Spain's membership in NATO.

We will meet again for a NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, next year.

And with that, I am ready to take your questions.

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