On July 10, 2024, The Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance, gathered in Washington D.C. to celebrate NATO’s 75th anniversary. The 2024 Washington Summit Declaration outlines the alliance’s key decisions, commitments, and future goals.
“Section 8 of the Summit Declaration underscores NATO’s robust initiative to bolster its defenses against a full spectrum of air and missile threats through an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) system employing a comprehensive 360-degree approach. This approach emphasizes the coverage of all possible threats including cruise, hypersonic, and ballistic missiles, ensuring a defense posture that is inclusive and uniformly resilient. The alliance has revised its IAMD Policy to heighten readiness, responsiveness, and integration, beginning with a focus on the Eastern Flank of the Euro-Atlantic area. Furthermore, NATO has declared an Enhanced Operational Capability for its Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD). The newly operational Aegis Ashore site in Redzikowo, Poland, enhances existing defenses in Romania, Spain, and Türkiye. This collective infrastructure aims to secure all European populations, territories, and forces against escalating missile threats, reaffirming that deterrence is a form of defense, integral to the Alliance’s strategy.”
-Heads of State and Government, North Atlantic Council, 10 July 2024, NATO Summit Washington, D.C.
We join NATO in celebrating this milestone anniversary, the alliance stands united and robust, reaffirming its commitment to collective defense and the enduring transatlantic bond. This summit has notably welcomed Sweden as its newest member, enhancing the Alliance’s strategic presence in the High North and Baltic Sea.
Significant advancements in cyber defense were highlighted with the establishment of the NATO Integrated Cyber Defense Centre, which bolsters the alliance’s network protection and situational awareness. Additionally, the imminent deployment of advanced F-16 fighter jets and additional Patriot missile systems significantly enhances Ukraine’s comprehensive air and missile defense capabilities, showcasing the commitment to modernizing air defense and reinforcing the alliance’s posture across NATO.
The eve of the summit was marked by one of the largest missile attacks by Russia and included the egregious targeting of the Hospital and Maternity Ward. NATO’s reply clearly articulated a commitment to 360-degree “all” encompassing defenses for all members from all sources and directions of threats in maintaining a stance of readiness against Russia and China. This includes advancements in low-cost distributed acoustics, as well as low-cost intercept solutions, and other innovative disruptive technologies with an open architecture for data sharing to significantly enhance detection and defense capabilities across NATO.
There are new technologies that must be incorporated into NATO’s interior and exterior lines of integrated deterrence and defense capabilities. This includes advancements in cheap distributed acoustics, low-cost intercept solutions, and other innovative disruptive technologies with an open architecture for data sharing to significantly enhance detection and defense capabilities across NATO. Within the US and NATO defense acquisition systems, there must be new approaches to quickly acquire and field systems that are Better – Faster – Cheaper. This will accelerate the delivery of comprehensive and collaborative capabilities to collective defense across Europe.
“Because the paradox is that the stronger and the more, we are committed for a long term to support Ukraine, the sooner this war can end and so that’s the thing we have to do. Then, we will have, and we have already seen some new announcements of military immediate support with the air defense systems with F-16 and other things that Allies have and will announce, we have the bilateral –that is a third of – the announcement of military aid”.
-Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, June 10, 2024, NATO Summit Washington, D.C.
The Summit was an overall success; however, the missed opportunity of this Summit was the announcement of relaxations in existing policy restrictions that inhibit and restrict Ukraine form using Alliance provided weapons to strike Russia allowing for Ukraine to properly defend its nation against the devastating and increasing drone, glide bomb and missile attacks launched from inside Russia.
With 75 years of existence, there is more that must be done to unite NATO. NATO’s Missile Defense Architecture must be united, integrated, and synthesized with an open architecture design that allows for full asset visibility and speed-of-action against airborne threats.
There is more that must be done.
