NATO is set to make history this week by holding a session with Indo-Pacific partners and the European Union at its defence ministerial in Brussels.
This is the first time countries from the Indo-Pacific will formally engage in NATO discussions, marking a significant moment as the Alliance works to tackle security challenges on a global scale.
During a briefing organised by the U.S. State Department, Ambassador Julianne Smith, the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, spoke to the UK Defence Journal and others the importance of this new partnership.
“For the first time, we will have a session during the ministerial with our Indo-Pacific partners and the European Union to talk about a variety of subjects, shared challenges, and our shared support for Ukraine,” she explained.
This step highlights NATO’s recognition that today’s security threats are increasingly interconnected. Though geographically distant from NATO’s usual areas of focus, the Indo-Pacific region is becoming crucial to the Alliance due to concerns over China’s growing influence and shared worries about cyber threats, terrorism, and hybrid warfare.
Global Reach
By inviting Indo-Pacific nations, NATO is showing that it aims to strengthen its global network of allies. This comes at a time when China’s support for Russia in Ukraine, along with other regional concerns, has prompted the Alliance to seek stronger partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
“The Indo-Pacific dialogue reflects how NATO is expanding its view on collective security,” Ambassador Smith said.
She added that this collaboration helps form “the connective tissue” needed to combat a wide range of modern threats, not just military ones, but also those targeting cyber security, democracy, and international rules.
A key focus of this historic session will be on support for Ukraine as it continues to face aggression from Russia. Ambassador Smith reiterated that NATO remains united with its Indo-Pacific partners in providing the necessary assistance to Ukraine, including military and humanitarian aid.
This move signals NATO’s broader ambition to foster closer ties with global partners, recognising that security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s assertiveness and North Korea’s activities, have far-reaching consequences.
Ambassador Smith mentioned that NATO is no longer solely focused on the Euro-Atlantic region but is increasingly working with nations beyond its borders to tackle shared threats. “There’s added energy in the halls of NATO right now,” she noted, as the Alliance gears up for deeper, more inclusive cooperation with its global partners.
As NATO prepares for its summit in The Hague next June, this defence ministerial, along with the inclusion of Indo-Pacific nations, marks a pivotal step in expanding NATO’s reach and strengthening its alliances in an increasingly complex global security landscape.
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