#governance
66pages tagged with "governance"
security
- 2002 Prague Summit â NATO Response Force and Prague Capabilities Commitmentâ The Prague Summit launched the NATO Response Force (NRF) and the Prague Capabilities Commitment (PCC), invited seven countries to join NATO, and advanced transformation to meet 21stâcentury threats.
- 2012 Deterrence and Defence Posture Review (DDPR)â Agreed at the Chicago Summit, the DDPR set NATOâs overall approach to deterrence across nuclear, conventional and missile defence, reaffirming that as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO remains a nuclear alliance, while advancing arms control and transparency.
- 2014 Readiness Action Plan (RAP)â Adopted at the Wales Summit after Russiaâs illegal annexation of Crimea, the RAP strengthened NATOâs readiness and responsiveness through assurance and adaptation measures, including the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).
- 2016 NATO Cyber Defence Pledgeâ Allies committed to enhance national cyber defences as a priority, recognizing cyberspace as a domain of operations and underlining that cyber attacks could, in certain circumstances, lead to the invocation of Article 5.
- 2018 Brussels Summit Declarationâ Leaders endorsed the NATO Readiness Initiative (\\
- 2019 London Declarationâ Marking NATOâs 70th anniversary, leaders reaffirmed the transatlantic bond, recognized space as an operational domain, and underscored unity on deterrence and defence, resilience, and burden sharing.
- 2021 Brussels Summit CommuniquĂ© â NATO 2030 Agendaâ Allies approved NATO 2030 to strengthen political consultation, resilience, technological edge, and partnerships; advanced adaptation across domains; and reaffirmed that cyber and hybrid activities could lead to the invocation of Article 5.
- 2023 NATO Defence Production Action Plan (DPAP)â Launched to accelerate multinational procurement, expand industrial capacity, and improve interoperability and stockpiles, the DPAP responds to the demands of sustained support for Ukraine and Allied deterrence and defence.
- 2024 Washington Summit Declarationâ At NATOâs 75th anniversary Summit, Allies reaffirmed support to Ukraine, endorsed measures to strengthen deterrence and defence and defence industrial capacity, and underscored the 2% of GDP defence investment as a floor.
- A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence (2022)â The EU's comprehensive strategy to strengthen its security and defense policy. It aims to make the EU a stronger and more capable security provider, able to act rapidly in crises and protect its citizens against a wide range of threats, and is the modern successor to the St. Malo Declaration.
- Alliance Maritime Strategy (2011)â NATOâs Alliance Maritime Strategy sets the role of maritime power in collective defence, crisis management, cooperative security, and maritime security operations.
- Bucharest Summit Declaration (2008)â This declaration is notable for stating that Ukraine and Georgia 'will become members of NATO' and that the Membership Action Plan (MAP) would be the next step. It also invited Albania and Croatia to begin accession talks.
- Charter for European Security (1999)â Adopted at the OSCE's Istanbul Summit, this document was a major attempt to adapt the principles of the Helsinki Final Act to the post-Cold War era. It is the primary source for the principle of the 'indivisibility of security,' which is frequently invoked by Russia in its criticisms of NATO.
- Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraineâ Signed in 1997, this charter established the NATO-Ukraine Commission and outlined areas for consultation and cooperation. It recognized the importance of an independent and stable Ukraine and established a crisis consultation mechanism.
- Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA) and NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept (NWCC)â Public overviews of two core classified military concepts: DDA (2020) translates political guidance into a warfighting posture to deter and defend across domains; NWCC (2021) provides a longâterm vision for how NATO will fight and win out to 2040.
- Enlarging NATO: The Russia Factor (RAND, 1996)â A 1996 report that provides a political-military analysis of the dynamics of NATO enlargement, with a particular focus on the interaction between the West and Russia. It assesses Russia's foreign policy and defense strategy and proposes alternative approaches for the United States and its allies.
- EUâNATO âBerlin Plusâ Arrangements (2002â2003)â Agreements allowing the EU to draw on NATO assets and capabilities for EUâled crisis management operations, subject to agreed conditions. Key step in EUâNATO cooperation.
- Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) â Basic Documentâ Adopted in 1997, the EAPC replaced the NACC and established a more structured framework for political consultation and practical cooperation between NATO and partner countries across the EuroâAtlantic area.
- Finland Joins NATOâ Finland became a full member of NATO on 4 April 2023, extending the Allianceâs border with Russia and strengthening defence and deterrence in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region.
- Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federationâ Signed in 1997, this act established the basis for a new relationship between NATO and Russia. It declared that the two were no longer adversaries and created the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council for consultation and cooperation.
- French National Strategic Review (Revue Nationale StratĂ©gique) 2022â France's national security strategy, updated in response to the war in Ukraine. It identifies Russia as the 'main and most immediate threat' and reaffirms NATO as the 'foundation and framework of Europe's collective security,' while also strongly emphasizing the need for European strategic autonomy.
- Integrated Review Refresh 2023 (United Kingdom)â The UK's updated national security and foreign policy strategy. It identifies Russia as the 'most acute threat' to UK security and China as an 'epoch-defining and systemic challenge,' and commits the UK to a leading role in NATO.
- Is NATO Ready for War? (CSIS, 2024)â A June 2024 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies that assesses NATO's efforts to strengthen its defense and deterrence capabilities since the 2022 Madrid Summit. It analyzes progress in defense spending, forward defense, and high-readiness forces, while also highlighting the challenges of preparing for a potential protracted war.
- Joint Declaration on European Defence (St. Malo Declaration)â A 1998 joint declaration by the British and French governments that is considered a key moment in the development of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It called for the EU to have the capacity for autonomous action, backed by credible military forces, to respond to international crises.
- Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the Peopleâ A joint statement issued on February 4, 2022, that outlines a shared vision for international relations. It opposes the further enlargement of NATO, criticizes the United States' Indo-Pacific strategy, and declares that the friendship between the two states has 'no limits.'
- Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation (2014)â This document outlines the official military policy of the Russian Federation. It identifies NATO's 'power potential' and 'global functions' as the main external military threat and details the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons.
- National Security Archive:â A briefing book from the National Security Archive that compiles declassified documents revealing a 'cascade of assurances' given by Western leaders to Soviet officials in 1990 and 1991 that NATO would not expand eastward beyond the borders of a reunified Germany.
- National Security Strategy of the Republic of Poland (2020)â This document outlines Poland's national security priorities. It identifies the 'neo-imperial policy of the Russian Federation' as the most serious threat and calls for strengthening Poland's defense capabilities within the NATO framework, including increasing defense spending to 2.5% of GDP.
- National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation (2021 Summary)â A summary of the key points from Russia's 2021 National Security Strategy. This document outlines Russia's view of the international environment, its national interests, and its strategic priorities, reflecting a confrontational stance towards the West.
- National Security Strategy of the United States (2022)â This document outlines the US approach to national security. It identifies China as the 'only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and...the power to do it,' while viewing Russia as an immediate and ongoing threat, and introduces the concept of 'integrated deterrence.'
- NATO 2010 Strategic Concept:â Adopted at the Lisbon Summit, this concept identified collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security as NATO's core tasks. It addressed a broader range of threats, including cyber-attacks and terrorism, and referred to Russia as a 'strategic partner.'
- NATO 2022 Strategic Conceptâ Adopted at the Madrid Summit, this document identifies Russia as the 'most significant and direct threat' to Allied security. It reaffirms NATO's three core tasks and addresses the challenges posed by China for the first time.
- NATO Ballistic Missile Defence â Interim Capability (Chicago 2012)â At the Chicago Summit, Allies announced an interim ballistic missile defence (BMD) capability, integrating sensors and interceptors under NATO command and control as the foundation for a full BMD architecture.
- nato documents (full library)â exhaustive library of primary texts (treaties, summit communiquĂ©s, strategic concepts) and key related materials
- NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP)â Launched in 1999, MAP provides tailored advice, assistance, and practical support to countries wishing to join NATO, covering political, economic, defence, resource, security, and legal aspects.
- NATO New Force Model (NFM)â Introduced in 2022 to deliver more forces at higher readiness, aligned to new regional defence plans; replaces the NATO Response Force construct over time and underpins forward defence.
- NATO-Russia Weekly Briefing (September 20-26, 2025)â A summary of key events during a week of escalating tensions, marked by a coordinated Russian hybrid warfare campaign involving airspace violations, drone incursions, and cyberattacks against critical infrastructure in multiple NATO countries.
- NATO, the EU, and the Challenge of Hybrid Warfareâ An analysis of the evolving nature of hybrid warfare in the context of the NATO-Russia standoff. By September 2025, both NATO and the EU have developed comprehensive strategies to counter hybrid threats, which have escalated from disinformation to coordinated physical and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
- North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) â Inaugural Meeting Statementâ Launched in December 1991, the NACC created NATOâs first formal forum for political consultation and cooperation with former Warsaw Pact and Soviet states, laying the groundwork for later frameworks like the Partnership for Peace and the EuroâAtlantic Partnership Council.
- OSCE Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measuresâ A politically binding OSCE document updating transparency and confidenceâbuilding measures, including information exchange, notifications, observation of military activities, and verification measures across the OSCE area.
- Partnership for Peace: Framework Documentâ This 1994 document launched the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, a major NATO initiative for practical bilateral cooperation with non-member countries. It provided a framework for former Warsaw Pact countries and other European nations to develop closer ties with the Alliance.
- Putin's Munich Speech (2007)â Speech by Vladimir Putin at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy, criticizing a unipolar order and NATO enlargement; widely seen as an inflection point in RussiaâWest relations.
- Rome Declaration: NATOâRussia Relations â A New Quality (NATOâRussia Council)â At the 2002 Rome Summit, Allies and Russia created the NATOâRussia Council (NRC), moving from the 1997 Permanent Joint Council to a format for joint consultation and, where appropriate, joint decisions and actions on shared security concerns.
- Study on NATO Enlargementâ This 1995 NATO study outlines the 'why and how' of admitting new members to the Alliance. It emphasizes the goal of enhancing stability and security across the Euro-Atlantic area and details the obligations of membership.
- Sweden Joins NATOâ Sweden became NATOâs 32nd Ally in March 2024, completing the Nordic regionâs integration into the Alliance and enabling deeper regional defence planning and interoperability.
- The Allianceâ Agreed upon at the Rome Summit, this was the Alliance's first post-Cold War strategic concept. It adopted a broader approach to security, emphasizing dialogue and cooperation alongside collective defense, and significantly reduced the role of nuclear forces.
- The Allianceâ Approved at the Washington Summit, this document adapted the Alliance to the post-Cold War security environment. It broadened NATO's mission to include crisis management and 'out-of-area' operations, and reaffirmed the 'open-door policy' for new members.
- The Black Sea Grain Initiativeâ An agreement brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 to ensure the safe passage of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports. The initiative was a critical humanitarian effort to address the global food crisis exacerbated by the war, though Russia ultimately withdrew from the deal in July 2023.
- The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurancesâ A 1994 agreement in which Russia, the UK, and the US provided security assurances to Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in exchange for their accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The signatories committed to respect the sovereignty and existing borders of the newly independent states.
- The Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation (2023)â Approved in March 2023, this document outlines Russia's current foreign policy. It frames Russia as a unique 'state-civilization' and calls for the formation of a 'multipolar world order,' taking a highly confrontational stance towards the 'collective West.'
- The Helsinki Final Actâ The concluding document of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), signed in 1975. It established foundational principles for East-West relations, including the inviolability of frontiers, territorial integrity, and respect for human rights.
- The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treatyâ Signed in 1987 by the United States and the Soviet Union, this treaty required the elimination of all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. Its collapse in 2019 is a significant factor in the deterioration of European security.
- The Minsk Agreements (I and II)â A series of agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 to stop the war in the Donbas region of Ukraine. Their failure to be fully implemented is a key element of the current conflict.
- The Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straitsâ Signed in 1936, this international agreement governs the passage of maritime traffic, both civilian and military, through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits. It grants Turkey control over the Straits while ensuring freedom of passage for civilian vessels in peacetime and restricting the passage of naval warships.
- The North Atlantic Treatyâ The foundational treaty of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), signed in 1949. It establishes the principle of collective defense, outlined in Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
- The SuwaĆki Gap: A Strategic Analysisâ An analysis of the SuwaĆki Gap, a critical vulnerability on NATO's eastern flank. This narrow land corridor is the only overland route connecting the Baltic states to the rest of the Alliance, making it a focal point of NATO's deterrence and defense planning.
- The Tagliavini Report (Summary)â A summary of the main findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia. This EU-commissioned report provides an in-depth analysis of the origins and course of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, assigning responsibility to both sides for the escalation of the conflict.
- The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (Theâ The 1990 treaty that paved the way for German reunification. It granted full sovereignty to a unified Germany and is a key document in the debate over NATO expansion due to its provisions on military deployments in the former East Germany.
- The Warsaw Pactâ The treaty that established the Warsaw Pact, a collective defense organization created by the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies in 1955. It served as the primary military counterbalance to NATO during the Cold War.
- Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)â Signed in 1990, this treaty established comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe. It was a cornerstone of post-Cold War European security, designed to reduce the possibility of large-scale offensive operations.
- Treaty on Open Skies (1992)â A multilateral treaty permitting shortânotice, unarmed observation flights over the entire territory of participating states to promote military transparency; entered into force in 2002. The United States withdrew in 2020 and the Russian Federation withdrew in 2021.
- Vilnius Summit CommuniquĂ© (2023)â Issued in the midst of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, this communiquĂ© details NATO's most recent decisions on strengthening deterrence and defense. It reaffirms that Ukraine's future is in NATO, removes the requirement for a Membership Action Plan, and establishes the NATO-Ukraine Council.
- Wales Summit Declaration (2014)â Issued in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea, this declaration marks a major turning point in NATO's post-Cold War posture. It suspended practical cooperation with Russia, created the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), and called on allies to reverse the trend of declining defense budgets.
- Warsaw Summit CommuniquĂ© (2016)â This communiquĂ© details the implementation of the decisions made at the 2014 Wales Summit. It announces the establishment of the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in the Baltic states and Poland, representing a significant shift in NATO's deterrence and defense posture.
- Western Sanctions on Russia (2014-2025)â A summary of the economic and financial sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States, the European Union, and other partners. These measures, implemented in response to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and dramatically expanded after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, target key sectors of the Russian economy.