NATO Update 19 June 2026

 

19 June 2026 Update

NATO Defence Ministers make good progress ahead of the Ankara Summit On 18 June 2026,  Allied Defence Ministers had their last meeting before the NATO Summit in Ankara next month. Secretary General Mark Rutte described how the ministers made “good progress” on NATO’s priorities. “Spending more, and better, on the forces and capabilities we need to defend every inch of Allied territory. Around the table today I heard Ally, after Ally, after Ally explaining how they are increasing investment in defence,” he said. Read more

NATO Secretary General meets Latvia’s Prime Minister: No Ally stands alone in NATO On 17 June 2026, Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of Latvia to NATO Headquarters in Brussels. They discussed the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara and NATO’s strong deterrence and defence. Read more NATO Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Croatia discuss Alliance readiness and regional security On 17 June 2026, Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković to NATO Headquarters in Brussels. They discussed preparations for the upcoming Summit in Ankara and how NATO will continue to defend every inch of Allied territory. Read more NATO Deputy Secretary General meets industry leaders in Paris On 15 June 2026, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska attended the Defence Forum Eurosatory in Paris. In her discussions with industry leaders and professionals, she highlighted the critical role of industries in European rearmament. Read more Chair of NATO Military Committee visits Ramstein Flag The Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, travelled to Norway, Sweden and Finland to visit NATO’s exercise Ramstein Flag 2026, which brought together Allied air forces for two weeks of multinational training. The major tactical-level live-flying air exercise involved forces from up to 18 Allies across three Joint Operations Areas, from northern Norway to southern Spain. Read more NATO AWACS lands in Sweden for the first time On 15 June 2026, a NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft landed in Sweden for the first time, marking a milestone for Alliance air operations in the High North.  The aircraft arrived at Kallax Air Base following the successful completion of a surveillance mission over Poland, supporting NATO’s commitment to maintaining situational awareness and safeguarding Allied territory. (Story courtesy Airborne Early Warning & Control Force) Read more Shaping the future of defence through innovation Friday 19/06, 15:30  CET   Join us on LinkedIn for our series of NATO digital roundtables taking place in the run-up to the NATO Summit in Ankara and the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum. Bringing together voices from across NATO Allies, industry and think tanks, this series will explore some of the most pressing issues shaping the future of Euro-Atlantic security. Over the coming weeks, discussions will focus on increasing defence investment, strengthening Allies' defence industrial preparedness, defence innovation, and NATO's work with industry. Today’s roundtable will explore how NATO engages with defence innovation ecosystems across the Alliance and accelerates the development and adoption of innovative technologies. The discussion will be moderated by Dr Nikos Loutas, Director of Innovation, NATO HQ Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments Division, and will feature distinguished speakers from the Alliance and industry. join us