G7 Followed by Immediate NATO Summit
Expected to Reaffirm Bonds Among Atlantic Democracies
Discussions on China, Russia, and Climate Change Anticipated
U.S. President Joe Biden (right) shakes hands with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo immediately after arriving at Brussels Military Airport in Belgium on the 13th (local time). [Photo by EPA Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, a collective security system of the United States and Europe, is scheduled to be held on the 14th (local time) at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived in Belgium to attend the meeting. Following the G7 (Group of Seven) summit, this meeting is expected to seek strengthening cooperation among Atlantic democratic countries and agree on strategic plans to counter China and respond to climate change.
According to CNN and Voice of America (VOA) on the 13th, President Biden arrived in Brussels, Belgium, a day before the NATO summit.
This meeting, attended by leaders of the 30 NATO member countries including the United States, is expected to reaffirm and seek unity in the alliance between the U.S. and European allies, which had deteriorated during the Trump administration.
NATO, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2019, faced ongoing discord and crisis due to former President Trump's pressure on European allies to increase defense spending and unilateral decisions such as the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and northeastern Syria.
Since taking office in January, President Biden has repeatedly stated his intention to restore and cooperate with allies. European countries hope this summit will be an opportunity to restore the Atlantic alliance and strengthen cooperative relations.
Among the 27 European Union (EU) member countries, 21 participate in NATO. Following the NATO summit, President Biden will meet with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at the U.S.-EU summit on the 15th.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said at a press conference on the 11th ahead of the meeting that this summit is "a very important moment for our alliance and collective security."
He added, "The current NATO strategic plan has not changed at all in the past decade," and "There is no mention of China, and the issue of climate change has been neglected."
Previously, NATO had attempted to revise this strategic plan to reflect changing international circumstances, but these attempts were frequently thwarted due to deteriorating relations with NATO allies during the Trump administration.
Therefore, at this summit, discussions will focus on strengthening alliance unity, protecting the rules-based international order, and reaching an agreement on the NATO reform plan, 'NATO 2030.'
Decisions are also expected to be made to address challenges such as China's rise, Russia, terrorism, cyberattacks, and the security impacts of climate change.
In particular, as this NATO meeting is scheduled ahead of the U.S.-Russia summit on the 16th, it is anticipated that President Biden will seek to secure NATO allies' support to counter Russia. Dan Hamilton, a European expert at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said, "President Biden is expected to work to secure friendly forces ahead of the summit with Russia."
NATO leaders may also agree to draft a new strategic document that includes China's military rise as one of the challenges for the first time.
Secretary General Stoltenberg said, "Important decisions will be made at this summit regarding political consultations and strengthening collective defense, and there will be an agreement on a new cyber defense policy."
He also added that the security impacts of climate change, including reducing carbon emissions in the military sector, must be addressed.
Major foreign media reported that NATO leaders are expected to agree on a climate change action plan to make the military 'carbon neutral' by 2050 and to adapt to the threats of global warming.
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