IN FOCUS
By Padmashree Anandhan and By Rishma Banerjee

NATO New Strategic Concept 2022: Five Takeaways

On 29 June 2022, at the NATO summit held in Madrid, Spain, the heads of the State and Government revealed the NATOs new Strategic Concept which listed the security challenges of NATO, its purpose and principles, the current strategic environment it faces, and its core tasks of “deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.” According to NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg: “NATO’s new Strategic Concept is the blueprint for the Alliance in a more dangerous and competitive world.”

Five takeaways
First, emphasis on open dialogue over direct confrontation for peace in Euro-Atlantic. In the previous strategic concept, NATO aimed to establish military cooperation with Russia. At present, the whole equation has turned around. Although NATO is expanding in the region and massively increasing its military power it substantiates the development as building resilience against Russia. This can be viewed as NATO’s deterrence strategy to avoid a direct confrontation and to push Russia for a dialogue.  

Second, growing challenges for NATO. When it comes to NATO’s strategic concept, its core task has remained in ensuring Euro-Atlantic peace. With the growing challenges in terms of Russian aggression, altered security environment, increasing human rights violations, the need to support Ukraine to maintain stability, meet the rising competition, and most importantly deal the authoritarianism. The report has brought out the threats and challenges which need to be addressed by NATO.

Third, NATO’s robust stand against nuclear weapons. NATO assured that the nuclear weapons will be used remotely. Despite its nuclear deterrence position and aim to bring down the strategic risks, it's warning on change in nature of conflict on the deployment of such weapons along with the support from the US for its nuclear forces shows the nuclear capabilities of NATO. This will leave no option for Russia but to settle down for dialogue or slow down its aggression.

Fourth, strengthened deterrence and defence. NATO which circled its military in only developing a collective defence in terms of missiles and weapons systems has now drastically boosted expanding its military capabilities into maritime, cyber, space, and digital transformation along with a special focus on non-military threats such as civil preparedness and civil support to NATO’s forces.

Five, missed focus on NATO’s enlargement. In the enlargement process, NATO has boosted its open-door policy, with Sweden and Finland joining the alliance soon, it will add significant value in terms of territorial and military expansion. But with regards to securing the Balkan front or the Arctic much detail on its strategy has not been given. Even in terms of addressing the effect of climate change it does not form a major part of NATO’s core tasks.

Reference
“NATO 2022 Strategic Concept,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 29 June 2022
“Strategic Concept 2010,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 19 November 2019

NATO Summit: Five Takeaways

What happened at the summit?
The NATO leaders met on 29 and 30 June 2022 in Madrid, Spain. Leaders of the 30 member countries, crucial NATO partners from Europe, Asia-Pacific partners, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea attended the meeting.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of growing Russian attacks and NATO's expansion in Europe. The two-day summit discussed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, increasing security in member countries and allies, and Sweden and Finland's formal invitation to join NATO.

NATO leaders adopted the new strategic concept. It is a document that states the challenges faced by NATO and provides the necessary political and military steps to be taken by NATO. They agreed to boost the alliance's defence and deterrence capacities and reiterated their support for Ukraine. The alliance also reaffirmed its open-door policy officially inviting Sweden and Finland to join NATO. It gives assurance to protect the territories and sovereignty of its member states and allies. Other issues such as food security, terrorism, climate change, cyber security, and space were also addressed

Five takeaways from the summit
First, change of stance about Russia. The last strategic concept identified Russia as a strategic partner. However, the new one identifies Russia as the "most significant and direct threat." This complete shift results from Russia's actions in Ukraine and their threats of further escalation. The members pledged more military and financial aid to Ukraine; they also discussed the possibility of Russia's attacks on member countries.  Another concern for NATO would be how Russia might be using Belarus to stage attacks.

Second, pre-empting a future attack. At the summit, NATO members decided to augment the NATO forces, especially along the NATO-Russia border in Eastern Ukraine. They will increase NATO's high-readiness contingent, the response force, from 40,000 to 300,000. In addition, the US will establish a permanent headquarters for its V Corps in Poland. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg noted the irony of the situation and said: "Putin wanted less NATO on his borders, but because of his actions, he's getting more."

Third, the further eastward expansion of NATO. Currently NATO has expanded across 14 countries in Eastern Europe. This summit saw Turkey lift their objection to Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Thus, leading a direct confrontation with Russia as both Finland and Sweden share land/sea borders. 

Fourth, NATO's Asia-Pacific focus. Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea were invited to attend the summit. These countries share similar values as NATO. Moreover, in this summit, NATO identified China's growing power as a threat. The four countries in the Indo-Pacific are expected to add to NATO's influence in the region against China and thereby expanding NATO's footprint in the region.

Fifth, renewed unity and importance of  NATO. The war in Ukraine has catalyzed a greater unity amongst the member states in NATO. Members unanimously agreeing to support Ukraine in its war efforts, showcases the united stand of the NATO group and the integrated approach towards countering Russia. Before the war, NATO’s efficacy was questioned, but with NATO's involvement in the war and there is renewed attention from the European countries looking up for NATO's collective defence.

References
“Despite Ukraine Focus, Asia-Pacific to Play Prominent Role at NATO Summit,” United States Institute of Peace, 27 June 2022
“NATO 2020 Strategic Concept,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 29 June 2022
“2022 NATO Summit,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 30 June 2022
“NATO Countries Signal Resolve at Summit: What Does It Mean for Russia?,” Council of Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2022
“Our experts decipher NATO’s new Strategic Concept,” Atlantic Council, 30 June 202

War in Ukraine: Day 127
By Emmanuel Royan
 
War on the Ground
On 30 June, Russian forces departed from the strategic Black Sea outpost of Snake Island. Brigadier General Oleksii of Ukraine's military reported that the Ukrainian forces are yet to occupy the island. The withdrawal of Russian forces from the island may loosen the hold on the Ukrainian ports. 
 
The regional governor of Luhansk, Sergiy Gaiday reported that the last major city in the eastern region of Ukraine that Russia needs to take over is under continuous shelling.  Gaiday stated that the Russians are advancing from all sides with numerous vehicles and artillery. He further mentioned that the operation to evacuate over 15,000 civilians was not possible because of the shelling.
 
Ihor Budalenko, an emergency official for the Odessa region, reported that a missile had struck a building in the village of Serhiivka in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district at around one in the morning killing 16 people.

The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 30 June, the deputy chairman of security council Dmitry Medvedev stated that when Russia launched the military action to defend Donbas, it did so in complete accordance with the UN charter's right to self defense. Medvedev stated that: "The purpose of the special operation is to protect people who for years have been subjected to inhuman treatment and abuse by the Kyiv regime, which violated all possible standards and norms." 
 
On the same day, the defense ministry reported that the Russian army has withdrawn its garrison from Snake Island as a gesture of goodwill. The move was taken to demonstrate to the world that Russia does not obstruct UN operations  for humanitarian assistance.  Furthermore, the ambassador of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) to Russia Rodion Miroshnik mentioned that the entire Lisichansk oil refinery was occupied by the Russian Army and the LPR. The allied forces have also taken over the Spornoye settlement in the Donetsk region.

 Also on 30 June, president Putin in a news conference at Ashgabat, affirmed that the special military operation in Ukraine is working as planned and there are no deadlines to be followed. He stated that: "The troops are advancing and reaching those endpoints that are assigned as a task at a certain stage of this combat work. Everything is going according to plan." He also asserted that the objective of the mission has not been amended or shifted since the beginning and the goal is "to create conditions that will guarantee the security of Russia itself."

The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 30 June, the secretary-general of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg addressed the press conference post the NATO Summit. He stated that the alliance has agreed to establish a EUR one billion Innovation fund. Which will promote artificial Intelligence to space technologies. On the last day of the summit, the discussion focused on threats from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel region. Along with this, the NATO leaders agreed on building defence capacity of Mauritania, Tunisia, and Jordan. Stoltenberg also highlighted how NATO is getting prepared with Finland and Sweden joining the alliance and briefed on the latest announcement on aiding Ukraine with equipment from both the soviet eras and of modern NATO standards.
 
Also on 30 June, the prime minister of the UK, Boris Johnson committed of additional one billion in military aid to Ukraine during the NATO summit will be funded by climate finance underspending. The business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng stated that his department will redirect the “underspends” from climate finance and foreign aid to military aid. Furthermore, the Scottish government has pledged GBP 65 million to the UK’s one billion commitment for the military defense of Ukraine.
 
US president Joe Biden in the press conference during the NATO summit assured the sale of new F-16 jet fighters to Turkey, the decision comes after Turkey agrees for Sweden and Finland to join NATO. Biden announced USD 800 million support for Ukraine he said: "This summit was about strengthening our alliances, meeting the challenges of our world as it is today and the threats we're going to face in the future."

The US department of defense will be stationing its two squadrons of F-35s in the Royal Airforce Base Lakenheath in Suffolk as a part of its commitment to advance the military presence across Europe.
 
On the same day, the chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz called on the EU and Lithuania to lift the restrictions on the movement of freight traffic from Russia to its Kaliningrad exclave. Scholz suggested that sanctions should not apply here as the goods were just transiting between two Russian territories and not for imports to the bloc. 

The Global Fallouts
Implications of the Ukraine war
On 30 June, president of Indonesia Joko Widodo visited Moscow to meet president Putin and called to solve the global food-supply disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine. He further discussed with Putin on commerce, investment, and tourism between the two counties. He appreciated Putin's assurances of the safe arrival of food and fertilizer from Russia and Ukraine.

Also on the same day, the Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to increase its oil production by 648,000 barrels a day. However, the cartels plan to increase supply by 50 per cent more than anticipated in July and August hasn't done much to lower prices thus far.
 
References
“Ukraine: Russia pulls back forces from Snake Island — as it happened,” Deutsche Welle, 30 June 2022
“Russian missile strikes kill 17 in Ukraine's Odesa region - authorities,” Reuters, 30 June 2022
“Medvedev says Russia in its operation in Ukraine used UN-backed right for self-defense - Russian Politics & Diplomacy,” TASS, 30 June 2022
“Russian Defense Ministry reports prisoner swap with Ukraine - Russian Politics & Diplomacy,” TASS, 30 June 2022
“Russian army draws down from Snake Island in goodwill grain gesture - Military & Defense,” TASS, 30 June 2022
“Lisichansk oil refinery taken under control of Russian and LPR forces — ambassador - Military & Defense,” TASS, 30 June 2022
“Russia's Ukraine operation going as planned, no need to squeeze it into deadlines — Putin - Russian Politics & Diplomacy,” TASS, 30 June 2022
“Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government (2022 NATO Summit),” NATO, 30 June 2022
Karl Mathiesen, “UK to use climate and aid cash to buy weapons for Ukraine,” POLITICO, 30 June 2022
Hans Von Der Burchard, “Germany’s Scholz urges free transit for Russian goods to Kaliningrad,” POLITICO, 30 June 2022
“Scottish ministers pledge £65m to Ukraine war effort,” BBC, 30 June 2022
Summer Said and Benoit Faucon, “OPEC, Allies Agree to Boost Oil Production Ahead of Biden’s Saudi Visit,” the Wall Street Journal, 30 June 2022
Jon Emont, “Indonesia’s Jokowi Visits Ukraine and Russia, Warning Food Crisis Looms,” the Wall Street Journal, 30 June 202
 Goals of Russian special operation in Ukraine have not changed since Feb 24, says Putin - Russian Politics & Diplomacy,” TASS, 30 June 202

IN BRIEF
By Sai Pranav

FRANCE
Vegetarian products are banned from being described as animal-based food
On 29 June, France banned the usage of terms like 'steak' and 'sausage' to describe plant-based food products. It is the first EU country to prohibit the usage of the term inappropriate words. The official decree says that plant-based food products terminology should not be associated with real meat ones with the same name.  The sector-based terminology should be followed only for products that belong to the animal kingdom. It has urged the EU to follow the same but the bloc rejected it. ("France bans use of 'steak,' 'sausage' to describe vegetarian products," Deutsche Welle, 30 June 2022)

IRELAND
The Birth Information and Tracing bill passed
On 29 June, the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 was passed as law in Ireland. The bill was signed by president Michael D Higgins of Ireland. The advancement of the bill through Ireland's parliament was described as a historic moment by the minister for children. This bill allowed the adoptees to access their original birth certificates. For those parents who want their identity to be concealed, their adoptee children are given an information session where they are taught to respect each other's right to privacy. The right to access the birth identity information is given to the adopted individuals for the first time in the history of the Republic of Ireland. Measures for smooth contact of the families will be done by the country. While some object to the law deeming it as discriminatory to the people who have to take information sessions due to their parents' wishes not to see them. ("Irish Birth Information and Tracing Bill becomes law," BBC News, 29 June 2022)

CLIMATE CHANGE
Popular brands found greenwashing on their plastic packaging 
On June 30, according to a report, companies such as coca-cola and Unilever have been misleading and greenwashing consumers that their packaging is eco-friendly. In reality, these companies' plastic packaging is sometimes nonrecyclable and not eco-friendly. They have been misleading and lying about their packaging to the consumers. These companies cause more plastic pollution which is contrary to what they advertise as being eco-friendly. Companies such as Kim Kardashian's Skims advertise they are not plastic but print in a small size on the product that they are indeed one. These popular brands present their products as though they are better for the environment but in actuality, they are difficult to recycle or not recyclable at all or use just a tiny portion of ocean-bound plastic. (Sandra Laville, "Coca-Cola among brands greenwashing over packaging, report says," The Guardian, 30 June 2022)

REGIONAL
ECJ ruling made the UK pay EUR 678 million on tax fraud
On 29 June, the UK paid the European Commission over EUR 678 million (GBP 583 million) for a fraud it committed on imported Chinese clothes. The judgement was given by the European Court of Justice to the UK to pay the European Commission EUR 678 million for the tax fraud it engaged in between 2011 and 2017 over Chinese clothing imports. The Commission sued the UK for EUR 2.7 billion in 2018. In its argument, the UK said that it had followed the EU rules before the 2014 introduction of the new method of tax collection for the organization. The UK states that it paid the full amount that it considers due for the period between 2015 to 2017. The UK said that it paid in an interest that protects its taxpayers from significant continued interest accrual. It also said that it would reject any claims put forward by the Commission that does not align with the ECJ ruling. ("UK pays EU £583m after customs ruling on Chinese imports," BBC News, 29 June 2022)

Fifteen people were arrested for human smuggling in the English Channel tragedy
On 29 June, fifteen people were arrested in France on suspicion of having a connection with the English Channel people smuggling incident that happened last November. 27 people who wanted to illegally migrate to the UK died near Calais due to a flimsy boat sank carrying an overpopulated number of people. The French authorities detained 13 men and two women who were suspected of being part of the incident. Some might be charged with manslaughter and people smuggling for their part in the incident. Five people were released without charge, one is placed under formal investigation and the rest are awaiting a court decision on whether to face a formal investigation or not. The majority of the arrested individuals were of Afghani and Pakistani nationality. But most of the people that died in the incident were Kurds from Iraq. Only two men survived the incident, an Iraqi and a Somali. (Tiffany Wertheimer, "Calais migrant crisis: 15 arrested over Channel tragedy," BBC News, 29 June 2022)

Ireland waits for the future UK government to negotiate 
On 29 June, Ireland's deputy prime minister Leo Varadkar said that Ireland's and the EU's further negotiation with the UK will have to wait until the change in government in London. He accused Boris Johnson and his government of being ignorant of people's opinions and seeking quarrels with the EU. Johnson's government has sided with the Democratic Unionist Party in scraping parts of the Northern Ireland protocol which might anger the EU as it violates the Brexit deal. This decision by the UK might undermine the EU's authority. Vardkar said that for trust to be restored, they have to wait for the new government as this one lost its credibility. The EU could be flexible when a reliable negotiating partner emerges in the UK. Post-Boris Johnson would be the best time to negotiate according to the chief of staff of the former prime minister Tony Blair. (Shawn Pogatchnik, "Ireland: Johnson may need to go before Belfast’s Brexit dilemma can be solved," POLITICO, 30 June 2022)