In a speech on Thursday (9 November 2023), NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, called for everyone to stand up for the values we cherish and uphold our shared responsibilities. He said that we are "at a point at which the unity and solidarity of democracies around the world are being tested more than ever".
The Deputy Secretary General stressed the role that NATO is playing to preserve the global order currently challenged by authoritarian regimes. Mr Geoană underlined the importance of continued support to Ukraine: "the fight of our Ukrainian friends is also our fight", he said. The Deputy Secretary General highlighted NATO's efforts to strengthen its deterrence and defence posture, including through more forces, resources, exercises or multi-domain operations. In his speech, the Deputy Secretary General also stressed the importance of NATO partnerships and how the Alliance is embracing new technologies and innovation.
He urged a "holistic thinking of societies", arguing that every new technology the Alliance has been dealing with - such as quantum, biotechnology, space, cyber, or new materials - has a dual military and civilian use. The Deputy Secretary General said NATO is encouraging innovation across all sectors and commended the Alliance's efforts to establish the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), as well as the Defence Innovation Accelerator for North the Atlantic (DIANA).
