NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg launched his annual report for 2023 on Thursday (14 March 2024), which covers all aspects of the Alliance's work over the past year.
The Secretary General announced the results of NATO's annual public perception polls, which also included surveys from Finland and Sweden for the first time. Mr Stoltenberg said, "the data is clear. Public support for NATO is extremely strong - on both sides of the Atlantic. If a vote were held today, an overwhelming majority of citizens across Allied countries would vote in favour of NATO." He added, "For example, in the United States, only 13 percent would vote against," underlining that "over 80% of our citizens believe that North America and Europe must continue to work together for our shared security." He underlined these results indicate that "across the Alliance, support for NATO remains rock-solid." Mr Stoltenberg further emphasised, "NATO citizens also continue to express strong solidarity with the brave Ukrainians. Across the Alliance, fully two-thirds of people want their country to continue supporting Ukraine." He said that this support "matters, because NATO Allies provide 99% of all military aid."
In 2023, Allies continued to provide unprecedented levels of support to Ukraine. Mr Stoltenberg said, "for the first time, a number of Allies also sent long-range systems -UK Storm Shadow and French SCALP missiles and Allies agreed to send F-16 aircraft." Mr Stoltenberg added that several Allies have now signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. Mr Stoltenberg stressed, "Ukraine needs even more support and they need it now. The Ukrainians are not running out of courage. They are running out of ammunition." He further emphasised, "this is a critical moment and it would be a grave, historic mistake to allow Putin to prevail. We cannot allow authoritarian leaders to get their way by using force."
On March 7, Sweden officially joined the Alliance and its accession was marked four days later, with a flag raising ceremony at the NATO Headquarters. The Secretary General emphasised, "last year, Finland joined the NATO family. Just last week, Sweden became the 32nd Ally," underlining, "NATO is now bigger and stronger."
The Secretary General welcomed that 2023 was the ninth consecutive year of increased defence spending across Europe and Canada, amounting to "defence spending rising by an unprecedented 11%." In 2024, Mr Stoltenberg highlighted that NATO Allies in Europe will invest a total of $470 billion in defence, amounting to 2% of their combined GDP for the first time. "This year, two-thirds of Allies will meet the 2% target, up from just three Allies in 2014." he said. Mr Stoltenberg said that he expected Allies to take further steps to support Ukraine, to reinforce and resource NATO's defences and deepen partnerships around the world at NATO's 75th Anniversary Washington Summit in July.
At the 2023 Vilnius Summit, Allies agreed a new Defence Production Action Plan to ramp up production, strengthen engagement with industry, and increase interoperability. The Secretary General highlighted, "since then, NATO has agreed contracts worth tens of billions of dollars for ammunition and key capabilities." He also noted, in addition to working even more closely with partners in industry, NATO has further deepened its relations with partners in the Indo-Pacific, and the European Union.
The Secretary General also noted that NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic - DIANA - is doubling its network of accelerators and test centres. These world-class sites on both sides of the Atlantic will focus on solving defence and security challenges, and sharpening NATO's technological edge in areas ranging from artificial intelligence and cyber, to 5G, hypersonics, and autonomous systems.
The Secretary General's Annual Report details NATO's work and achievements throughout the year.
