31st Formal Meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

The 31st formal meeting of the heads of state and heads of government of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was held in Brussels, Belgium, on 14 June 2021.

Major Outcomes of the 2021 Summit

A. NATO Countries’ Communique on China and Russia

  • Members issued a communiqué highlighting the “threat” presented by Russia and the “challenges” posed by China.
  • “Russia’s aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security,"
  • “China’s growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance”.

B. Cyber Attacks and Space Attacks qualify for Collective Defense

  • NATO leaders have officially recognized attacks in outer space and cyberspace as qualifying for collective defense compared to the earlier traditional military areas of land, sea, and air.
  • This change comes as alliance leaders grow increasingly concerned about China’s and Russia’s aggressive actions in space.

About NATO

  • The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 European and North American countries having its headquarters at Brussels, Belgium.
  • The Washington Treaty – or North Atlantic Treaty – forms the basis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO.
  • The Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. on 4 April 1949 by 12 founding members.
  • A key provision of the treaty, the so-called Article 5, states that if one member of the alliance is attacked in Europe or North America, it is to be considered an attack on all members. That effectively put Western Europe under the "nuclear umbrella" of the US.

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