The agenda featured the decisions discussed in preparation for the forthcoming NATO summit in July.
\nNATO defence ministers discussed fairer burden sharing pertaining to defence investments by the member nations in the period ahead, in line with the commitments under the Defence Investment Pledge.<\/p>\n
NATO has adopted the \u201cReadiness initiative\u201c to put in place available forces (30 battalions;30 air squadrons and 30 naval combat vessels ready to use within 30 days) as needed, by 2020, which serves to enhance the readiness of existing national forces, and to instill a long-term culture of readiness across the Alliance.<\/p>\n
The Alliance has also agreed to stremgthen NATO Command Structure to be increased by more than 1,200 personnel and to establish two new command posts – the Joint Force Command for the Atlantic (to be based in Norfolk, the U.S) and the new Enabling Command, to be based in Ulm, FR Germany.<\/p>\n
At a special meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Federica Mogherini and defence ministers of Sweden and Finland as PfP countries reviewed NATO-the EU co-operation, particularly on military mobility,, and the progress in the co-operation of the two organisations with respect to hybrid and cyber threats and naval operations and exercises.<\/p>\n
The ministers also had a meeting with force contributors to \u201cResolute Support\u201c on continued engagement of NATO in Afghanistan, agreeing to extend the assistance to Afghanistan through training and practice of the Afghanistan Security Force, and also extend the funding for the ANSF in the post-2020 period.<\/p>\n