NATO’s new 5% of GDP defence pledge shows renewed unity and focus on collective security, Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska told AnewZ in an exclusive interview. It came as U.S. President Donald Trump used his WEF address to again claim credit for pushing allies to lift defence spending.
During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed Arctic security and Greenland, with the U.S. President signalling that new tariffs on European allies were unnecessary for the time being.
"Actually, from what I heard and read after Davos and this meeting between the Secretary General and the U.S. President, it was quite a lot of praise from both sides, because it was really seen as an effort of thoughtful diplomacy to actually come up with agreement on many things," Shekerinska told AnewZ Editor-in-Chief Guy Shone in an exclusive sit-down interview.
Shekerinska noted NATO’s focus on collective security in the Arctic amid increased Russian and Chinese activity.
“Out of the eight Arctic countries, seven are NATO allies. Our approach has been to focus on what we can do more in order to support our collective security by protecting the Arctic,” she explained, citing Russia’s reopening of Soviet-era military sites, deep-water ports, and new airfields, as well as China’s growing presence in the region.
The Deputy Secretary General stated that the promise to increase defence spending within the alliance, reflects “a razor-focused approach on security, on stronger defence and deterrence,” signalling a new era of unity and burden-sharing within NATO.
“U.S. President Trump was very clear that he expects European allies and Canada to really take a balanced part of the weight when it comes to security,” she said.
The Deputy Secretary General stressed that the 5% GDP pledge demonstrates both commitment and credibility in the face of growing global threats, including from Russia and terrorism.
Shekerinska also highlighted NATO’s longstanding partnership with Azerbaijan. “We have a history of three decades of partnership with Azerbaijan. They have both profited from this partnership, but also contributed to the partnership,” she said, referencing Azerbaijan’s involvement in NATO missions in Afghanistan and contributions to human security initiatives, such as demining and defence education programmes.
The Deputy Secretary General added that NATO is formalising this cooperation through a new Individually Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP), designed to enhance bilateral relations and foster regional stability.
She also welcomed recent breakthroughs in Armenia–Azerbaijan relations, describing the peace negotiations as “a concrete contribution” to regional security.
Despite criticism of multilateral organisations in recent years, Shekerinska emphasised that NATO’s focus on core security priorities and its adaptability has reinforced its relevance.
“Every time people start posing the question about NATO’s future, we end up with a solution, meaning more NATO, not less NATO,” she said, underlining the alliance’s assuredness in confronting today’s global challenges.
“NATO is prepared for the future and facing it with strong self-confidence,” Shekerinska concluded.
A torpedo from a U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth told reporters as ...
A U.S. submarine strike sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, leaving at least 80 dead, the country&...
The election of Iran’s next supreme leader could provide an opportunity to end the ongoing regional war involving Israel, the U.S. and ...
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the United States is making gains in its conflict with Iran after a key I...
The U.S. Department of Defense has released a video of a submarine strike on an Iranian warship off the southern Sri Lankan coast. At least 80 peop...
A U.S. submarine strike sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, leaving at least 80 dead, the country’s deputy foreign minister said. Meanwhile, Iran postponed the funeral of its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to state media.
The election of Iran’s next supreme leader could provide an opportunity to end the ongoing regional war involving Israel, the U.S. and Iran, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the United States is making gains in its conflict with Iran after a key Iranian naval target was destroyed, confirming that the strike was carried out by a U.S. submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka. Rescue efforts are now under way for the ship’s crew.
The U.S. Department of Defense has released a video of a submarine strike on an Iranian warship off the southern Sri Lankan coast. At least 80 people died in the U.S. attack on the vessel, Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
A torpedo from a U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth told reporters as the Iranian conflcit entered its fifth day on Wednesday.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones resulting in a limited fire and some material damage, the kingdom's defence ministry said in a post on X on Tuesday, citing an initial assessment.
Shahid Motahari Sub-Speciality Hospital in northern Tehran and parts of the Golestan Palace were bombed on day two of the U.S.‑Israel strikes. AnewZ Touraj Shiralilou is in Iran's capital city and said that the facility was flattened in an airstrike.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the United States is making gains in its conflict with Iran after a key Iranian naval target was destroyed, confirming that the strike was carried out by a U.S. submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka. Rescue efforts are now under way for the ship’s crew.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions to shut their doors.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment