“We will significantly strengthen our deterrence and defence posture to deny any potential adversary any possible opportunities for aggression. To that end, we will ensure a substantial and persistent presence on land, at sea, and in the air, including through strengthened integrated air and missile defence. We will deter and defend forward with robust in-place, multi-domain, combat-ready forces, enhanced command and control arrangements, prepositioned ammunition and equipment and improved capacity and infrastructure to rapidly reinforce any Ally, including at short or no notice. We will adjust the balance between in-place forces and reinforcement to strengthen deterrence and the Alliance’s ability to defend. Commensurate with the threats we face, we will ensure our deterrence and defence posture remains credible, flexible, tailored and sustainable.” – NATO 2022 Strategic Concept 

NATO convened in Madrid this week to discuss its new strategic concept, spelling out the military alliance’s grand strategy for the next decade and both Russia and China were called out for threatening the world order. As we stated in “Combined Power,” NATO is also teaming up with Indo-Pacific allies—Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand— to enhance Indo-Pacific security together with NATO against Russia and China. 

“The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. It seeks to establish spheres of influence and direct control through coercion, subversion, aggression and annexation. It uses conventional, cyber and hybrid means against us and our partners. Its coercive military posture, rhetoric and proven willingness to use force to pursue its political goals undermine the rules-based international order. ” – NATO 2022 Strategic Concept 

“China is substantially building up its military forces, including nuclear weapons. Bullying its neighbours, and threatening Taiwan. Investing heavily in critical infrastructure, including in Allied countries. Monitoring and controlling its own citizens through advanced technology. And spreading Russian lies and disinformation.” – Jens Stoltenberg, Opening Remarks  

To lead NATO, to enable the new Strategic Concept, and to embolden commitment to NATO, the United States committed to increasing its permanent force structure in Europe. From the U.S. Navy, two additional Arleigh-Burke Aegis ballistic missile defense capable destroyers are being sent to Rota, Spain. This will bring the Rota footprint to a total of six U.S. Aegis destroyers capable of performing critical air and missile defense missions. From the U.S. Army, an additional Brigade Combat team and numerous enablers were committed to Europe, as well as an Army headquarters which will be established in Poland. From the U.S. Air Force, two F-35 squadrons will be deployed to the United Kingdom. Spain, too, has followed and taken immediate action to bolster air and missile defense capabilities by stationing National Advanced Surface-To-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) in Latvia.  

“Authoritarian actors challenge our interests, values and democratic way of life. They are investing in sophisticated conventional, nuclear and missile capabilities, with little transparency or regard for international norms and commitments.” – NATO 2022 Strategic Concept 

The U.S. and its allies constructed the current world order at the conclusion of World War II 77 years ago. Now, NATO and our combined force must—and will—compete to win against revisionist and authoritarian actors. Addressing the challenges facing us requires increased investments from our NATO allies so that the military alliance can be fully integrated to fight as one significant—one unbeatable—force.