Portugal and 11 NATO countries strengthen maritime safety

Dand according to a note published on the website of the Norwegian Government, this “joint commitment”, signed during the NATO summit in Ankara, includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom”.

These countries have strengthened their commitment to “take greater maritime responsibility for deterrence and defence in the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea and the Arctic Ocean”.

” Our countries already have modern maritime capabilities and platforms and plans to significantly strengthen these capabilities over the next decade, positioning us as a collective force able to conduct high-intensity maritime operations”, reads the note.

This group of allies undertakes to strengthen “training, exercises and operations throughout the spectrum of maritime operations in the Euro-Atlantic region”.

Countries also commit to “strengthening maritime command and control capabilities and giving priority to investments” that increase their “situational awareness in all areas”.

The group, in which Portugal is included, also commits to intensify “the focus on innovation to develop relevant maritime capabilities and effects”.

According to the note, the European allies and Canada “are willing and able to take on a fair share of the burden while strengthening NATO’s unity and cohesion”.

” This compromise demonstrates a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO, with Europe and Canada taking greater responsibility for our common Euro-Atlantic security, in close coordination with the United States.”

” In the face of an increasingly challenging security environment, this commitment demonstrates our willingness and ability to deter and defend ourselves from the long-term threat posed by Russia”, reads the text.