Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters,...
Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password. 19 May 2026 3 MIN READ Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the media: welcome to NATO Headquarters! Thank you for being here. We meet today for the spring session of the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence format. Allow me to start by welcoming, for their first attendance in this Committee, the Chief of Defence of Portugal, General João CARTAXO ALVES; and the Chief of Defence of Slovakia, Lieutenant General Miroslav LORINC. The Alliance remains vigilant 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on all fronts. From the East, to South, to the High North. Including the Arctic. Since we last met in this format, in January, new crises arose. Existing crises have deepened. And, the security environment has become even more demanding. Russia's war against Ukraine is now fully into its fifth year. I was in Ukraine three weeks ago. And I can confirm: This war remains brutal, consequential. And directly relevant to our security. At the same time, instability and violence persist across NATO's Southern neighbourhood. Trade routes remain under pressure. Energy flows remain exposed. Hybrid threats continue, with cyber-attacks, sabotage, disinformation, and malicious use of new technologies. So, this is a moment for clarity, discipline, and action. We have been tested, recently. And we have demonstrated that we can defend ourselves. Our deterrence and readiness are stronger. Our awareness is sharper. And with last summer's The Hague Summit commitment on defence investment, we are on the right track. But our follow through and delivery is essential. That is why we are here. Today we discuss posture, plans, capabilities, innovation, and adaptation. We do this as NATO Chiefs of Defence. We will hear from our military counterparts in Ukraine and the European Union. And we will engage with the NATO Secretary General on the links between our work and the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara. Before we begin, we pause to honour those who are no longer with us, the fallen servicemen and servicewoman–those who gave their lives in the line of duty to protect our future and peace. Please, let's stand.... Dear colleagues, I have been sitting in this chair now for over a year, and I cannot help but reflect on how time is a cross–cutting dimension of competition, crisis, and conflict. In warfare, deterrence, and defence, the ability to understand, decide, and act faster increasingly shapes outcomes. A sailor repairs the sails when the sea is calm. But we no longer have calm seas. We are already in the storm. So, our task is not simply to move faster, but to make better decisions while maintaining coherence, cohesion, and strategic direction. Without further ado, I look forward for a very productive meeting, today. There will be a Press Conference this afternoon. But for now, before we begin the first session, let's allow the media to leave the room. Thank you. Link was copied to clipboard GALLERIES Opening of the NATO military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session 19 May 2026 1 / 16 NATO Military Committee during the Act of Remembrance. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of North Macedonia, Major General Sashko Lafchiski with the Chief of Defence of Norway, General Eirik Kristoffersen. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Finland, General Janne Jaakkola with the Chief of Defence of Belgium, General Frederik Vansina. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Latvia, Major General Kaspars Pudāns; the Chief of Defence of Germany, General Carsten Breuer; Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), Admiral Pierre Vandier. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Iceland, Director Jónas Allansson; the Chief of Defence of Lithuania, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras; the Chief of Defence of Italy, General Luciano Portolano. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Germany, General Carsten Breuer; Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), Admiral Pierre Vandier; the Military Representative of France, Lieutenant General Cyril Carcy. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Poland, General Wiesław Kukuła with the Chief of Defence of Portugal, General João Cartaxo Alves. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Germany, General Carsten Breuer; the Chief of Defence of Belgium, General Frederik Vansina; the Chief of Defence of Greece, General Dimitrios Choupis. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Canada, General Jennie Carignan; the Chief of Defence of Belgium, General Frederik Vansina; the Chief of Defence of Demark, General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Germany, General Carsten Breuer with the Chief of Defence of Greece, General Dimitrios Choupis. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Germany, General Carsten Breuer; the Chief of Defence of Bulgaria, Admiral Emil Eftimov; the Chief of Defence of Greece, General Dimitrios Choupis. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Poland, General Wiesław Kukuła with the Chief of Defence of Slovakia, Lieutenant General Miroslav Lorinc. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Spain, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón with the Chief of Defence of North Macedonia, Major General Sashko Lafchiski. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Italy, General Luciano Portolano with the Chief of Defence of North Macedonia, Major General Sashko Lafchiski. Left to Right - The Chief of Defence of Germany, General Carsten Breuer with the Chief of Defence of Canada, General Jennie Carignan. The Chair of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone. Back VIEW METADATA VIEW IMAGE Assets details Description Creation date Location Themes Reference Resolution Aspect radio Format Usage right Credit GALLERIES Opening of the NATO military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Opening of the NATO military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session Opening of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session View usage rights Usage rights CLOSE This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. TITLE DATE DURATION Opening remarks by Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee 0:00 / 0:00 Audio Language Selection: Audio Language Selection: Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Opening remarks by Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee 0:00 / 0:00 Audio Language Selection: Audio Language Selection: Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Opening remarks by Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee
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