Azernews.Az

By Gunay Camal

The NATO Warsaw Summit takes place at a defining moment for the security of the Alliance states, as the world has become more volatile and dangerous in recent years given heinous attacks by ISIL and other terrorist groups, as well as cyber attacks, nuclear proliferation and ballistic missile threats.

In the Warsaw Summit scheduled for July 8-9, the states will take key decisions to strengthen the Alliance’s defense and deterrence and project stability beyond NATO’s borders.

"Defending our homelands is not just about defending our borders. It is also about projecting stability beyond our borders. Because if our neighbors are more stable, we are more secure. That will be the other major theme for the Warsaw Summit," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the summit.

NATO is expected to show capability and will respond to the challenges and threats that are the most immediate in the eyes of the Alliance member-states.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also highlighted that NATO needs to be more active and up-to-date amid the rapidly changing nature of security threats.

“The refugee crisis and migratory movements are affecting the whole world. Cyber-attacks, epidemics, and regional instability are being reflected even in geographically isolated countries,” Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport before leaving for the NATO summit, Anadolu reported.

This Summit is the first to be hosted in Poland and the first to be chaired by Stoltenberg, who took up his post in October 2014, according to NATO.

At the Warsaw Summit, the Alliance will also seek a new level of cooperation with the European Union in spheres of countering hybrid threats, cyber defense and maritime security.

NATO is also preparing to boost spending on defense. The Secretary General announced that the Alliance expects a real increase of 3 percent in defense spending by European allies and Canada.

“This amounts to $US8 billion,” Stoltenberg said, specifying that 22 allies will increase military expenditure in real terms.

Meanwhile, the Brexit poses the gravest challenge to the European project and the European unity in more than half a century. There has long been a desire in some European countries, as well as in the EU leadership, for stronger defense ties among EU nations, and with the Brexit vote Europe’s position over military may change.

Azerbaijan and NATO

The North alliance and the South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan enjoy strong partnership ties.

Azerbaijan actively participates in the programs such as Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), Planning and Review Process (PARP) and Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) of NATO. The country also provides transit opportunities for NATO forces, as well as contributes for the International Security Assistance Force and Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan in order to support the international peace and security.

Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring the energy security of Europe is also appreciated by NATO.

President Ilham Aliyev is already in Warsaw to attend the summit of the alliance, where the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict maybe discussed.

James Warlick, OSCE Minsk Group's U.S. co-chair, tweeted on July 7 that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be discussed on the margins of NATO Summit in Warsaw

"Just arrived in Warsaw for the NATO summit. It's an opportunity to continue discussions on Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and Azerbaijan," he tweeted.

Also, ahead of the Summit, President Barack Obama spoke on the phone with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, while the two leaders mulled Syria and Ukraine, as well as efforts to settle the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a White House summary of the phone conversation.

NATO has repeatedly announced that it takes an interest in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and encouraged the conflict sides to continue their efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

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