NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska took part in the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland on Monday (12 October 2026), joining Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas and Polish Secretary of State at the Minostey of Defence Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka for a panel on how Europe can build the military power it needs.
Ms. Shekerinska stressed that strong defence is a prerequisite for our security. "Building stronger defences is our top priority at NATO. It's how we keep our one billion people safe," she said, adding that this means investing a lot more in defence - 5% of GDP annually.
She underlined that Europeans are spending a lot more, but not yet enough, and that Poland is leading by example. "The real reason why Russia has opted for this kind of attacks or threats, is because they want to undermine our unity," she said of Moscow's hybrid campaign. The result, however, is a "stronger NATO, committed to support Ukraine even more," she explained.
The conference also featured other key NATO voices, including the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Alexus G Grynkevich.
While in Warsaw, the Deputy Secretary General also held a bilateral meeting with Hungarian Minister of Defence Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi. Together they discussed the importance of reaching defence spending and capability targets and boosting the defence industry to ensure our collective security. Ms. Shekerinska also had several meetings with defence and technology companies, where she reiterated that there is no strong defence without a strong defence industry.
