VILNIUS, LITHUANIA – NATO leadership will meet in Vilnius for the NATO Summit, happening on the 11th and 12th of July. Topics such as Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, challenges represented by China, as well as the accession and integration of Sweden, are all key discussion priorities for the Summit.
On July 11th and 12th, 2023, the Alliance will host the 33rd NATO Summit in Lithuania. NATO Summits are periodic meetings between heads of state and heads of government from NATO Member Nations and Allies; meetings address overarching political and strategic issues faced throughout the Alliance. These issues can include internal issues, such as defence spending and membership procedures, as well as external issues, like organizational relationships and regional challenges. Decisions announced from the Summit will be issued in a series of declarations and communiqués, such as the official 2022 Madrid Summit Declaration.
On July 6th, Lithuania celebrates Statehood Day, in honour of the establishment of the Kingdom of Lithuania 770 years ago, when Mindaugas was crowned as the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania. Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, will be hosting one of the most important and largest NATO Summits in the Alliance’s history. The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, shared his insights:
“In the current geopolitical context, with Russia waging a bloody war in our neighbourhood, allied unity and strong commitment to collective defence are crucial. The fact that the NATO Summit will be held in Lithuania sends a clear message to hostile countries that we are united and will defend every inch of the Alliance.”
Lithuania joined NATO in 2004, hosts a multinational NATO battlegroup in Rukla, and frequently participates in NATO exercises and affairs.
This Summit will include leaders from the 31 NATO Member Nations, as well as leadership from additional NATO partners like Ukraine, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. “The decisions we will take in Vilnius will bring Ukraine closer to NATO… Bolstering NATO’s deterrence and defence will also be high on the agenda of our summit,” shared NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who recently had an extension to his term as Secretary General; he will chair the NATO Summit, which will also include the NATO Public Forum for increased understanding through a series of similar panel discussions, debates, and interactive sessions.
