U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III shares a laugh with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO defense ministerial at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 22, 2021. NATO leaders are conducting their first in-person defense ministerial since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to chart the course for the alliance as it modernizes and adapts to a world dominated by strategic competition. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

By Gary  Raynaldo  DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg both agreed that the U.S. and Alliance allies must stand united to meet  new, more complex security challenges as the war in Afghanistan fades into  history.   NATO leaders are conducting their first in-person defense ministerial since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic  at Alliance headquarters in Brussels,  Belgium  this week to chart the course for the alliance post-Afghanistan.  NATO Defence Ministers discussed how to further strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defence, continuing NATO’s adaption to a more complex and competitive world.  Allies also reviewed progress in NATO’s response to the growing threat from Russia’s missile systems. Ministers also exchanged views on the lessons to be learned from NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan and how to preserve the gains made in the fight against terrorism.

“NATO remains the central forum for consultation, decision making, and action on trans-Atlantic security and defense issues.  Our meetings this week only reinforces that NATO’s strength doesn’t come just from its military might; it comes from its unity and its sense of common purpose.”

-U.S. Defense Secretary Austin

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III conducts a press conference at the NATO defense ministerial at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 22, 2021.

Deterring Russia is a focus of NATO, and the defense ministers approved a number of initiatives to improve the readiness and availability of forces and capabilities.  

NATO Alliance Concerned About China’s “Disturbing Activities”

The U.S. Defense Secretary noted that the global security environment is changing, generating concern from the East- i.e. China.  “Regarding China, let me just say … that alliances like NATO are one of our greatest strengths,” Austin said.  “And at the summit in June, we elaborated on the ways that China’s ambitions and behavior present challenges to the rules-based international order.” 

NATO Discusses Responding To More Competitive World

“The crisis in Afghanistan does not change the need for Europe and North America to stand together in NATO in the face of growing global challenges. Our unity and our strength is what keeps us secure. It is vital that we continue to coordinate and stand together in the fight against international terrorism. What we did today was to address and also make important decisions on how NATO should respond to a more competitive world, where we see more state-to-state rivalry, and where actually we see the whole global balance of power is shifting because of the rise of China. So when you address this whole new security environment with new threats and new challenges, of course, part of that picture is China. And the fact that China is heavily modernizing its military capabilities, including advanced nuclear systems and long range missile systems, and also that we see China coming much closer to us, not least in cyberspace.”

-NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

Press Conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at  NATO  Headquarters  Brussels  Oct. 22, 2021.

General view of the meeting room at  NATO Headquarters  Brussels, Belgium  Oct. 22, 2021.

Annegret Kramp Karrenbauer (Minister of Defence, Germany)  NATO  Headquarters   Brussels Oct. 22, 2021.

Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg  at NATO Headquarters  Brussels,  Oct. 22, 2021.