Having set out an ambitious plan for increased defence investment last year, the challenge now is to turn those financial commitments into concrete military capabilities in order to protect citizens and preserve peace. Luxembourg has restated its firm commitment to NATO, to collective defence and to the principle of strength through cohesion.
A credible deterrent, member states agreed, requires modern innovation, a strong defence industry, capabilities in space and cyber, and solid financing. Luxembourg wants to make an important contribution here by setting up the Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank.
The summit was also an opportunity to renew support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
At the NATO summit in Ankara, member states adopted a joint final declaration. Despite tensions between the United States and some European partners, no major dispute broke out.
On Iran, only a minimum common position was reached. NATO insists that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and calls on the country to respect freedom of ship navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The heads of state and government renewed their firm commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. That basic principle states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on the alliance as a whole, and that the other member states will come to its aid.
