warsaw summit communiqué (2016)

Warsaw Summit Communiqué

Warsaw, Poland - 9 July 2016

The Warsaw Summit Communiqué, issued on 9 July 2016, outlines NATO’s response to a changed and evolving security environment. It reaffirms the Alliance’s commitment to collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security.


Key Decisions and Declarations

  • Strengthened Deterrence and Defence: The communiqué announces the enhancement of NATO’s military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance with the establishment of a rotational Enhanced Forward Presence of four multinational battalions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, starting in 2017. It also details measures to strengthen the Alliance’s posture in the south-east.

  • Projecting Stability: NATO commits to projecting stability beyond its borders by providing more support to partners, including a new training and capacity-building mission in Iraq, continued support for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, and an expanded maritime presence in the Mediterranean.

  • Ballistic Missile Defence: The communiqué declares the initial operational capability of the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence system.

  • Cyber Defence: Cyberspace is recognized as a new operational domain, and Allies pledge to strengthen their cyber defenses.

  • Relations with Russia: The communiqué states that NATO’s actions are defensive, proportionate, and in line with its international commitments. It expresses a willingness to maintain dialogue with Russia to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, but states that there can be no return to “business as usual” until Russia shows a clear, constructive change in its actions.

  • NATO-EU Cooperation: A joint declaration with the European Union is highlighted, aiming to elevate the strategic partnership between the two organizations in areas such as countering hybrid threats, maritime security, and cyber defence.

  • Open Door Policy: The communiqué reaffirms NATO’s commitment to its Open Door policy and welcomes the progress made by aspirant countries.


The Warsaw Summit Communiqué represents a significant adaptation of NATO’s posture in response to the security challenges on its eastern and southern flanks. It demonstrates a renewed focus on collective defense and deterrence, while also maintaining a commitment to dialogue and partnership.

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