NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the crucial role of the North Atlantic Alliance in ensuring European security during the European Political Community (EPC) meeting, which was held by the UK government on July 18, 2024. Stoltenberg described NATO as the "cornerstone of European security" and stressed the alliance's steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst the ongoing war, as reported by Ukdefencejournal.
Stoltenberg also condemned the "pattern of Russian hostile actions against NATO Allies," which he stated includes cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns. He noted that NATO allies are countering these threats by sharing intelligence, enhancing the protection of critical infrastructure, and conducting national legal processes.
"The goal of Russia's attacks is to make us abandon our support for Ukraine, but we will not succumb to coercion," Stoltenberg affirmed.
He also announced that a new NATO command center, aimed at coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine, will begin operations in September this year.
The European Political Community meeting was attended by around 50 European leaders, primarily from NATO member and partner countries, to discuss key issues affecting European security, such as democracy protection, energy and cyber security, migration, and the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.