In a virtual address to the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA) on Friday (26 November 2021), NATO's Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană stressed the importance of transatlantic unity and solidarity to cope with today's security challenges.
Reflecting on today's security challenges such as Russia, China, cyber and hybrid attacks, terrorist threats and threats to democratic values, the Deputy Secretary General said that these are not short-term problems with easy fixes, but multi-generational challenges, which no country can face alone. He said that in a dangerous world, solidarity is strength, underscoring the important role that YATA and its young members can play. Mr. Geoană also emphasised the value of the transatlantic bond and close cooperation with like-minded partners such as the European Union as essential to the protection of populations on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mr. Geoană further outlined the priorities of NATO 2030 agenda, which was approved at the Brussels Summit in June 2021. The aim, he highlighted, is to strengthen the Alliance as the indispensable forum for all issues that affect our security, increase national and collective resilience and boost cyber defences. NATO 2030 priorities notably include retaining the Alliance's technological edge, stepping up efforts to address the security implications of climate change, and developing a new NATO Strategic Concept in time for the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid.
This event marked YATA's 25th anniversary. The association brings together young professionals, university students and researcher interested in Euro-Atlantic and international security policies.
