OTAN summit in Madrid. A new strategic concept
The Madrid summit, which was attended by representatives of all OTAN member countries, as well as the President of Ukraine Volodymir Zelenski by videoconference, was historic because it marked the renewal of OTAN's strategic concept, which aims to "address changes in the global security environment and ensure that the Alliance can continue to fulfill its key purpose".
Since the approval in 2010 of the previous strategic concept, events such as the Russian invasion of Crimea, the UK's exit from the European Union (Brexit) or China's role before, during and after the pandemic... have drawn a new map of global security.
In addition to declaring the Russian Federation as the most important and direct threat to the security of the allies and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, the document signed at the Madrid summit devotes a chapter to China, which the Atlantic Alliance considers a challenge to OTAN's interests, security and values, questioning its global economic influence that is generating serious strategic dependencies that increase its influence, as well as the abuse of disinformation to which Xi Jinping's executive is accustomed.
In contrast to the declaration of Russia as a threat to the Alliance - in the words of Atlantic Alliance secretary general Jens Stoltenberg himself, "Putin's war against Ukraine has shattered the peace in Europe and provoked the greatest crisis in European security since World War II" - the intent with respect to China is to work on constructive, forward-looking engagement.
The Atlantic Alliance approves a colossal increase in defense spending, despite the fact that it continues to oppose the decision for nuclear rearmament, despite the fact that Russia, North Korea and China itself are investing in this type of armament.
The fight against terrorism is declared a priority task for the collective defense of the members of the Alliance, and cybersecurity is considered one of the main challenges in view of the seriousness of the potential interference in strategic government services.
The document incorporates a statement on the need to accelerate the digital transformation necessary to provide digital means for protection and effective outreach to citizens in the age of information and communication technologies. The threats to democracy coincide with the security threats to all Alliance member countries.
Find attached the official document.
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