Charles Michel (l), Jens Stoltenberg and Ursula von der Leyen shake hands after signing. Photo: Olivier Matthys/AP/dpa
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel signed a declaration to this effect in Brussels on Tuesday. Among other things, it aims to improve cooperation in the protection of critical infrastructure, such as energy and water supplies.
The text also mentions, for example, how to deal with information manipulation and interference from abroad and the security policy consequences of climate change as areas for increased cooperation. Global warming is considered a risk to peace and security because it threatens the livelihoods of millions of people. Even more humanitarian catastrophes, flight and migration as well as increasing conflicts over resources such as water and land could be the result.
As the security threats and challenges evolve in scope and scope, the collaboration will be taken to the next level, the text says. To this end, the cooperation will be expanded and deepened.
For the first time, possible threats from China are also addressed in a statement on EU-NATO cooperation. China’s growing self-confidence and policies pose challenges that need to be addressed, the text says. However, Russia’s war against Ukraine is cited as the greatest security threat.
The statement builds on two previous joint statements from 2016 and 2018. In these, for example, it was agreed to organize coordinated exercises and to strengthen cooperation in the field of cyber security.
(SDA)