NATO summit in Brussels, 14 June 2021
The heads of state and government of the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will meet on Monday, 14 June 2021 at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The summit, chaired by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, aims to take decisions in connection with the NATO 2030 agenda with a view to addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow
Belgium, one of the founding members of NATO in 1949, has also been the seat of the Organisation since December 1966. Brussels and Belgium have recognised experience and know-how when it comes to organising European and international summits.
The 14 June summit – the first meeting between US President Joe Biden and the other heads of state and government of the NATO partner countries – will focus on the importance of transatlantic relations and solidarity between the allies. In addition, the heads of state and government will adopt a series of proposals as part of the NATO 2030 initiative, which aims to strengthen NATO politically and militarily and prepare it for the security challenges of tomorrow.
In parallel with the summit, bilateral meetings between nations and organisations will also be held.
The summit is a great opportunity for Belgium to be the focus of international news, in particular as the seat of NATO. In addition to the media coverage, hosting an international summit brings economic and geopolitical added value to our country and its capital of Brussels, which itself will be in a position to underline its role as an important diplomatic capital. As the host country, Belgium is handling many aspects of the summit: security and prevention, protocol, mobility and communication.
Strict preparations and health protocols
Preparing for the summit requires a great deal of mobilisation by the federal authorities and involves many stakeholders and partners. An interdepartmental task force was set up to handle general coordination and oversee the preparations. Chaired by FPS Foreign Affairs, the task force – in collaboration with FPS Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Defence and FPS Home Affairs – is coordinating aspects related to security and prevention, protocol, mobility and communication.
Accordingly, the summit is being organised under the best conditions, in perfect collaboration between federal and regional institutions, and in compliance with relevant COVID-19 health measures. Both the delegations from the participating countries and the attending journalists are required to comply with the health measures and protocols in force in Belgium. Additional measures, such as mandatory PCR tests and temperature checks, have also been planned by NATO.
The holding of this summit in Brussels will have a major impact on mobility around NATO headquarters, where a security perimeter will be set up on 14 June. More information is available on the website of the Brussels Capital Ixelles police zone. On the day itself, real-time information will be disseminated on their Twitter account (Polbru).
