By Hanadi Watfa MADRID, July 1 (KUNA) -- The (NATO) summit concluded in Spain on Thursday, with the adoption of a roadmap for the next decade and put fundamental decisions to face future challenges, agreeing that the alliance is today stronger and more united than ever.
The official invitation to Finland and Sweden to join the alliance was one of the most prominent outcomes of the Madrid Summit, held between 28 and 30 last June.
The accession protocol would be signed next Tuesday in the presence of the foreign ministers of the two countries, to begin the process of their accession, which will take a few months until the parliaments of the 30 allied countries agree on it.
This came after Turkey's withdrawal of the veto over the accession of the two countries after signing a memorandum of understanding in which the two countries pledged full cooperation with Turkey in the fight against terrorist organizations and all threats to its national security.
On their part, the two Nordic nations confirmed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) will be designated a "terrorist organization" and commit to prevent activities" of the PKK and all other terrorist organizations and their extensions." Leaders of the (NATO) adopted a new strategic concept painting a roadmap for the upcoming decade, as it consider Russia as a direct threat and China a challenge to the alliance's values and interests.
In the Madrid Summit Declaration, Russia, once deemed "strategic ally" in the 2010 document, is now described as "the most significant and direct threat to Allies' security." Additionally and for the first time, China is included in the alliance's strategic concept as the alliance views its ambitions and coercive policies as a challenge to its values, security and interests.
China's cyber, space, hybrid, other asymmetric threats, and the malicious use of emerging and disruptive technologies, as well as its elusive strategies and intentions threaten undermines the security of the alliance, the document stressed.
It also shed light on the deepening of strategic partnership between Russia and China, and their attempts to bolster one another, stating that this undermines international order.
On the Ukrainian conflict, the allies pledged to continue supporting Kiev "in the long term" and as long as Ukraine needed it to withstand Russia, stressing that "this war will not end with a Russian victory over Ukraine." In this regard, on the final day of the NATO summit, US President Joe Biden says his administration will soon provide another USD 800 million in security assistance for Ukraine to fight Russia.
The three-day summit included the Biden administration announcing plans to permanently bolster the US military presence in Europe, including, Spain, Romania, Poland, Germany, Italy, and Britain.
On its part, the UK took the chance to announce an additional aid shipment of more than one billion dollars, including air defenses, drones and electronic warfare equipment.
While French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris would provide Kiev with six additional Caesar cannons, after sending 12 systems of these self-propelled artillery earlier.
On the other hand, the Allies renewed their commitment to allocate two percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to their military budget.
Stoltenberg also announced that the alliance's pre-emptive defenses would be strengthened and the size of its rapid intervention forces increased from 40,000 to 300,000 by next year.
As for the Middle East, the allies discussed challenges in the region and North Africa, agreeing on combating terrorists, exchange of intelligence information, and addressing illegal immigration and terrorism files.
In another context, the Allies set (NATO) climate goals for the first time, as they agreed to reduce the organization's greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2050.
Some 44 international delegations participated in the summit, including the heads of the 30 Allied countries and the leaders of four non-allied European Union countries Cyprus, Malta, Austria and Ireland, in addition to Finland and Sweden, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(NATO) leaders agreed that the Madrid summit was a "historic" summit, led by Biden, who said at the conclusion of its work, "We can all agree that this was a historic summit for NATO," while adding, "After Russia invaded Ukraine, NATO did not become stronger, but rather became more united." (end) hnd.nhq