A Meeting of NATO in Watford, UK

Marking 70 years of the Alliance, NATO heads of state and heads of governments met in Watford, just outside London on the 4th of December. As well as celebrating resilience, the agenda addressed how NATO changes in changing socio-political conditions focusing on the importance of unity. “To stay secure, we must look to the future together” read the London Declaration, issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council. Following on from French President Emmanuel Macron’s interview for The Economist, which demanded a stronger stance from Europe and referenced greater cooperation with Russia, tensions were high before this year’s summit.

NATO is a defense alliance, thus posing no direct threat to any nation. The focus of the Alliance, which implements the North Atlantic Treaty signed on April 1949, is to form a system of unified defence, consolidating a union between Europe and North America. In the theme of unity and alliance, NATO leaders emphasised greater cooperation with international bodies such as the UN and EU, and reiterated their commitment to the NATO Open Door Policy in welcoming North Macedonia. 

Since the Alliance’s previous meeting in Brussels in 2018, the Summit discussed arms control and the role of Russia, as well as the emergence of China in the geopolitical sphere. The Secretary General highlighted it was the first time the challenges and opportunities brought about by the rise of China were considered. Amidst the increasing role of technology and the implementation of 5G, telecommunications and resilience to cyberattacks were priority items on the agenda. The Summit also established space as a fifth operational domain for NATO, “recognising its importance in keeping us safe and tackling security challenges, while upholding international law” according to the London Declaration. The leaders agreed to an increase in defence spending, with non-US countries taking a larger role. With over 130bn dollars being invested in defence, 2019 marks the fifth consecutive year of increased non-US defence expenditure.

Overall, despite tensions between leading personalities, the meeting yielded positive conclusions with members agreeing to gather again in 2021.