Rinkēvičs: The new Strategic Concept may become the most important NATO policy document of the decade

He points out that the strategic concept is planned to be prepared before the next NATO summit in Madrid in 2022. According to the Minister, the task of the Strategic Concept is to provide an inventory of the global and Euro-Atlantic security environment, a list of threats and threats, and to offer a common strategic vision and desirable principles for NATO action over the next decade.

According to Rinkēvičs, the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Riga at the end of this year made a significant contribution to the Allied consultation process and the discussion on the revision of NATO’s Strategic Concept. He pointed out that ministerial-level discussions on NATO’s strategic concept were launched in Riga.

“There is a clear desire on the Allies to jointly strengthen NATO’s role as the world’s strongest military alliance over the next decade. In the Euro-Atlantic area, the main threats remain Russia’s aggressive behavior, long – term impact on global security, “said the foreign minister.

Rinkēvičs also points out that in addition to the above, a common position must be formulated regarding the rapid growth of China’s role in the conventional military and technological fields, as well as in view of China’s active investment in critical infrastructure.

The Foreign Minister points out that while the dynamic international security environment remains, the concept must provide for the possibility of later identification of new, previously unidentified threats and threats. Given these circumstances, in Latvia’s view, NATO’s central role in defense and deterrence must remain in the concept – NATO must be prepared to respond to any threat or threat.

“So far, NATO has successfully adapted its defense and deterrence policy, exemplified by the presence of Allied forces in Latvia, deploying a NATO Allied Battlegroup of ten Allies, thus strengthening the defense of the Baltic States and deterring Russia,” Rinkēvičs said in an annual report. .

In his view, this adaptation should be continued, while maintaining flexibility for future changes in the key parameters of the security environment. The hybrid threat posed by Belarus to NATO’s Eastern flank shows that it could affect several Allies simultaneously in a closely linked process, and NATO needs to further develop its ability to respond in a coordinated manner.

The Minister said that special attention to the process of reviewing NATO’s Strategic Concept so far and in the future will be given to strengthening the political unity and consultation process of Allies, as well as the need for a full spectrum analysis of future NATO missions and, if necessary, more effectively. achieve the goals set and mobilize the necessary capabilities of NATO and Partners.

Rinkēvičs explains that the integration of climate issues into security policy and its instruments both in the context of NATO and the integration of these aspects into the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common Security and Defense Policy is becoming increasingly important. NATO’s Climate Change and Security Report will be produced in 2022, and Canada has decided to establish a Center of Excellence for Climate and Security.