By Sama Marwan,
Brussels, Belgium – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will participate in a meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council at the level of Defence Ministers tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21, at the invitation of Kaya Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
A press statement released today, Monday, on the Alliance’s website detailed that the meeting will take place at the Europa building in Brussels, commencing with a round table discussion among European Defence Ministers. This will be followed by the approval of the agenda and the adoption of the list of non-legislative items.
A key item on the agenda is the discussion of the EU’s ongoing support for Ukraine. A dedicated session is scheduled for tomorrow morning to explore ways to bolster military and logistical assistance to Kyiv, including coordination with NATO in the areas of training and armaments.
A working lunch will be held tomorrow, Tuesday afternoon, dedicated to discussing European defence readiness. This discussion comes amidst growing security challenges in Europe’s vicinity, particularly on the eastern flank, in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
During the meeting, the NATO Secretary General is expected to underscore the importance of deepening cooperation between NATO and the European Union, especially in the areas of cyber defence, joint capabilities, and crisis response. He will likely emphasize that the partnership between the two institutions is “essential to ensuring the security of the Euro-Atlantic area.”
This meeting takes place in the context of preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit, scheduled to be held in The Hague in July. The summit is anticipated to focus on strengthening deterrence and defence, expanding support for Ukraine, and enhancing defence integration among European allies.
