Luxembourg Reiterates Commitment to NATO, Support for Ukraine

Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade has reported that Minister Xavier Bettel participated in the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers held at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 April 2024.

Over the course of two days, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade attended three working sessions of the North Atlantic Council, focusing in particular on the preparation of the NATO Summit in Washington in July 2024, the situation in Ukraine and its relationship with NATO, and the latter's partnership with Indo-Pacific countries.

At the first session of the North Atlantic Council, which welcomed Sweden for the first time as a new NATO member, the foreign ministers exchanged views on preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington and on the sustainability of support for Ukraine. Minister Bettel emphasised the importance of continuing ongoing collective efforts in terms of adaptation within NATO: "As a founding member of NATO, Luxembourg is determined to make its contribution to strengthening the Alliance. In addition to the considerable efforts we have already made, we are currently working on a plan to increase our defence spending to 2% of gross national income in the medium term."

In Brussels, Minister Bettel also participated in the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of foreign ministers, which took place in the presence of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. This meeting notably allowed the ministers to discuss the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine and the country's equipment needs. In his speech, Minister Bettel reiterated Luxembourg's support for Ukraine: "It’s not about charity, it’s about our safety. This is about the security of our continent and respect for rules-based international law. The alternative would be an order based on the law of the strongest."

Minister Bettel then participated in a working session with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region, namely Australia, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand. During this meeting, which was also attended by the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, the ministers discussed ways to strengthen collaboration on common issues, including cyber defence, new technologies, maritime security, climate change and the fight against disinformation.

The meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers was also an opportunity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of NATO, which was created on 4 April 1949 in Washington with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty by twelve founding states, including Luxembourg.