“These are all transnational problems and they require multinational solutions,” the Secretary General stressed. In response, “NATO will be more effective by investing in modern capabilities to meet modern needs and more actively and deeply engaged with the wider world.”
A group of 70 young leaders who have been selected from across Allied and Partner nations are participating in the conference. They are professionals in the early part of their careers, including parliamentarians, think tank analysts, entrepreneurs and business people, journalists, bloggers and activists. Joining them are 120 students from Portugal’s leading universities.
Over the course of three days, the young leaders are engaging in debates on a wide range of issues NATO currently faces, including the new Strategic Concept, operations in Afghanistan, global partnerships, and emerging security threats and challenges.
The conference provides an opportunity for the participants to engage directly with the Alliance’s leadership. The Summit also aims to build a network of young leaders and encourages continued future collaboration on issues relating to NATO and transatlantic relations.
