On Monday 26 October 2026, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska, alongside NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Douglas Jones, and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' President of the Board of Directors and Secretary General, Theodora Gentzis, opened the 2026 NATO Partnerships 360 Symposium. The event took place from 25 to 27 October, in Brussels, Belgium.
The NATO Partnerships 360 Symposium is the Alliance's flagship event to discuss NATO partnerships. This edition was co-hosted by the Kingdom of Belgium, and brought together 183 participants from 31 NATO Allies and 28 partners to explore the growing interconnectedness of security theatres and its implications for preparedness, vigilance and resilience.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Shekerinska highlighted the value of NATO's partnerships, both for Allies and for the countries and organisations with which NATO cooperates.
The Deputy Secretary General recalled the historic commitment to reach 5 percent of GDP on defence spending by 2035 made by Allies at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, and reaffirmed at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, and the range of concrete capabilities delivered at the Ankara Summit this year. She further noted that in today's more dangerous world, the consequences of instability travel further and faster, and that as Europe and Canada take on greater responsibility for our shared security, the Alliance must continue building strength, readiness and resilience with its partners, including the European Union.
The NATO Partnerships 360 Symposium provides an opportunity for representatives from NATO Allies and partner nations to reflect on the evolution of NATO's partnerships, share perspectives, and seek new concrete areas for increased cooperation.
