NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was in Madrid on Tuesday to open a global summit that will decide the direction of the Alliance in the next decade.
Stoltenberg said the two-day meeting would chart a blueprint for NATO “in a more dangerous and unpredictable world” marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has sparked a “fundamental shift” in NATO's approach to defense.
Stoltenberg also said he was “hoping to make progress” with Sweden and Finland's application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted both countries to abandon their long-held nonaligned status and seek membership, although their application is being blocked by Turkey over Sweden and Finland's stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists.
The NATO leader gave a joint news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who added that “the goal is clear: to convey a message of unity on the part of the allies.”
Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Madrid on TuesdayClaudio Alvarez
US President Joe Biden landed at Torrejón de Ardoz military base at around 3pm, where Spain's King Felipe VI was on hand to greet him.
Other heads of state and government were expected to arrive in the Spanish capital throughout the day.
There is a large security operation in place to protect over 40 delegations from NATO member countries.
Biden is expected to formally inform Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez about America's intention to increase the number of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers deployed at the Rota naval base, in southern Spain, from four to six, according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
tight security
The Spanish government is deploying 6,550 National Police officers and 2,400 members of the Civil Guard, in addition to 1,200 municipal police officers who will collectively watch over the safety of more than 40 heads of state and government scheduled to attend the gathering.
Each delegation will additionally bring their own security detail, while F-18s from Spain's Air Force will watch over the airspace.