In a world where peace and security cannot be taken for granted, NATO’s fundamental purpose remains to counter, deter and defend Allied territory and populations against attack. Collective defence is enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and underpins the Alliance’s resolve and solidarity in facing threats and challenges. At the same time, Allies face intense global competition and are challenged by the growth of Russia’s and China’s military capabilities, including their growing nuclear weapons stockpiles, and their efforts to reshape the rules-based international order.
In response to these developments, Allies have strengthened their deterrence and defence posture. They have stepped up their defence spending, made major investments in critical equipment, and have moved towards fairer burden-sharing within the Alliance. They have also bolstered the Alliance’s capacity to respond quickly to any threat, anywhere by increasing their readiness levels and improving interoperability. NATO training and exercises are a key part of this effort, as they help to communicate NATO’s capability and readiness to potential adversaries, across all domains and the spectrum of conflict.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the broader security environment underlines the importance of NATO’s “all hazards” approach to resilience, which includes strengthening the ability of societies to prepare for, respond to and recover from the full range of threats and hazards. This includes terrorism, cyber attacks, natural disasters, and the growing strategic challenge of hybrid threats. In addition, the Alliance is enhancing its capabilities in the area of crisis management by strengthening its partnerships with key partners and advancing its capacity to respond to complex crises.