NATO Defense Ministers Meeting and New Developments
NATO took an important step at the last Defense Ministers Meeting, with 15 allied countries committing to develop more effective solutions against low-level air threats. This meeting was held at NATO headquarters in Brussels and the participating countries included Turkey, as well as Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom. These countries, Air threats below 150 meters aims to cooperate against.
Czech Multinational Enterprise
In addition to these 15 countries, the Czech Republic has launched a multinational initiative on “passive air surveillance,” aiming to identify threats that cannot be detected by active air surveillance systems such as radars and satellites. This initiative aims to identify threats in the airspace more effectively using methods such as noise detection.
Low-Level Air Threats and New Capabilities
Low-level air threat and passive air surveillance projects allow participating countries to develop new capabilities while also aiming to reduce costs and increase operational benefits. NATO aims to increase its ability to detect, identify, track and respond to these threats by using new technologies. The statement said: “The war in Ukraine has shown how effective and dangerous technologies such as small drones can be in conflict.” The expression attracts attention.
Multinational Munitions Storage Initiative
At the signing ceremony, Turkey and Portugal announced that they have joined the Multinational Ammunition Storage Initiative (MAWI), which was launched in 2021 to strengthen the preparation and management of ammunition stocks. This initiative aims to make the countries' ammunition management more efficient.
Cross-Border Airspace Initiative
The UK has become the 21st member of the Cross-Border Airspace Initiative, which also includes Turkey. Launched in October 2023, the initiative aims to increase coordination between civil and military authorities in the use of airspace for NATO training and exercises, as well as air activities in various parts of Europe. Such collaborations aim to increase security among allied countries by making NATO’s airspace management more effective.
Modular Air Defense Capabilities Project
Launched in 2023, the Modular Solution for Ground-Based Air Defense Capabilities (Modular GBAD) Project aims to develop modular solutions against “very short, short and medium range air threats.” Romania, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom are involved in this project. Such projects strengthen NATO’s air defense capabilities, thus increasing the security of member countries.
As a result
These new NATO initiatives and projects aim to increase the air defense capabilities of allied countries and to produce more effective solutions against low-level air threats. The effects of the war in Ukraine once again demonstrate the importance of such cooperation. NATO's strengthening of its defense capabilities by taking advantage of technological developments will increase not only its own security, but also the security of its member countries.
