Summary of the day
Nato defence ministers met in Brussels to discuss a wide range of issues, from military plans to tensions in the western Balkans.
Ministers held a session with their Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, who joined via videoconference to brief on Hamas’s attack.
Haim Regev, Israel’s ambassador to the EU and Nato, told the Guardian after the session that “we do not ask specific things from Nato as Nato”, but that Israel want to see “strong support” from the alliance and “it was extremely important that the defence ministers will hear first-hand what happened”.
Ministers also discussed damage that was recently discovered to a pipeline and cable in the Gulf of Finland.
Estonia’s defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, said after the meeting that he got “100% support” from allies and there are “no assumptions” about what happened to the undersea infrastructure. “We said to the investigators very clearly that you have free hands, and no assumptions – just take the facts.”
Nato’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, told reporters after the ministers’ meeting that “Israel has the right to defend itself, and as the conflict unfolds, the protection of civilians is essential.”
The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, said in a press conference that the US is moving to help Israel – while also continuing to support Ukraine. “The United States can walk and chew gum at the same time,” he said.
Allies put more pressure – in private and in public – on Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden’s bid to join the alliance.
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Asked about the damage to undersea infrastructure between Estonia and Finland, Lloyd Austin said he was aware of the reports of the attacks on the infrastructure and has been in touch with colleagues in both countries. Austin said they are investigating, and thus he would not speculate on the reports.
The US has offered help to Finland with its investigation, the secretary noted.
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Asked about Iran’s possible involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel, the US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, said the US has not seen any indication that Iran was involved in the planning or execution of this attack. This is something the US remains focused on, he added.
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Asked what assurances the US has asked from Israel when it comes to assistance, Lloyd Austin told reporters at Nato today that no conditions were placed on provision of equipment.
The Israeli forces are a professional military, he said.
“We would hope and expect that they would do the right things” and there is “no reason to believe” they would do anything differently, he said.
The US would support Israel in terms of intelligence in any way it can, and sharing mechanisms are there, he said.
Asked about Hezbollah’s role, Austin said the US has not seen a massing of forces on the border.
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US will get Israel what it needs while also supporting Ukraine, Austin says
The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, told reporters in Brussels following a Nato ministers’ session that nobody should try to take advantage of Hamas’s assault to cause more instability.
Washington is working to get Israel what it needs, while also supporting Kyiv, Austin stressed.
Our support for Israel is rock solid. We’re working urgently to get Israel what it needs to defend itself, including munitions and iron dome interceptors, and we will do so even as we continue to support the people of Ukraine as they fight against Russian aggression. Make no mistake, we can and will stand by Israel even as we stand by Ukraine. The United States can walk and chew gum at the same time.
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Asked about the situation in Kosovo, Jens Stoltenberg said Nato has a responsibility and takes this very seriously.
Nato has already increased its presence with more troops from Romania, Bulgaria and the UK, he noted.
It is a tense and difficult situation, which Nato is following very carefully, Stoltenberg said.
The main message, he said, is that Pristina and Belgrade need to refrain from actions that can further inflame tensions. The EU and Nato are working closely together, he said, pointing to the EU-led dialogue.
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Asked about the security of undersea infrastructure, Stoltenberg said it is obvious that pipelines and cables are of critical importance for societies and much has been done to protect this infrastructure. After the damage to the Nord Stream pipeline last year, Nato stepped up its work and established a cell to better coordinate efforts, he noted.
We need to realise that undersea infrastructure is extremely vulnerable, the Nato chief said, noting that this is about sharing information and deterrence to reduce risks.
Now, there is a need to wait for the outcome of investigations into the latest incident between Estonia and Finland.
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Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s secretary-general, told reporters that Nato as an alliance is not directly involved in the Middle East but was briefed by Israel’s defence minister today. Allies condemned the attacks against civilians in Israel, and as this conflict evolves, it is important to protect civilians, he said. There are rules of war, he added.
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Jens Stoltenberg said he welcomes comments from Turkey’s defence minister that Ankara stands by an earlier agreement to ratify Sweden’s Nato membership bid.
Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify Sweden’s application.
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Nato’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, told reporters the situation in the Middle East is very challenging and that there is a risk that nations or organisations could try to take advantage. No one should try to utilise the situation, he stressed.
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After the defence ministers’ session, Nato’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said that allies expressed strong solidarity with Estonia and Finland as they work to establish facts on damage to undersea infrastructure.
If this is proved to be a deliberate attack, it would be met by a united and determined response, he said.
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'Israel has the right to defend itself' and 'protection of civilians is essential', Nato chief says
Nato’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, told reporters after the defence ministers’ meeting that allies condemned Hamas and called for the release of all hostages.
Israel has the right to defend itself, he said, noting that a number of Nato allies are providing practical support to Israel.
Allies strongly condemned Hamas’ indefensible attacks on civilians and called for the immediate release of all hostages. Our thoughts are with all those affected by these horrific attacks. Israel has the right to defend itself, and as the conflict unfolds, the protection of civilians is essential. No nation or organisation hostile to Israel should seek to take advantage of the situation or to escalate the conflict.
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What issues were the most pressing at Nato’s meeting? We asked diplomats.
As Nato’s defence ministers wrap up a two-day meeting in Brussels, we asked senior European diplomats what received the most attention.
One senior diplomat pointed to four issues:
Continued practical support for Ukraine and discussions on Kyiv’s future political path toward Nato.
Protection of critical underwater infrastructure in light of recent incidents in the Finnish Gulf.
Executability of regional defence plans.
Hamas terror in Israel.
A second senior diplomat gave a similar list:
Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Nato yesterday “underscores the challenge to continue the level of support and for Ukraine to communicate its gratitude to the supporting states”.
Making sure the new defence plans will be executable.
A third senior diplomat said:
“Good, standard stocktaking. Nothing revolutionary.”
“Regional plans, filling the gaps.”
“Practical support to Ukraine, reforms.”
“Strong push for Sweden’s accession.”
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Estonia’s defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, speaking to the Guardian at Nato’s headquarters, said that from his perspective “the most important still is to keep the unity for Ukraine”.
Asked about the future of US financing for Kyiv, the minister said “you can see that there is a very strong bipartisan support, and I truly believe that also among Republicans, there is a clear understanding what Ukrainians are fighting for … they are doing that for the whole free world.
“I still believe that although the elections are approaching and everything, that there will be consensus – or at least common sense will win at the end of the day.”
Asked about tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, Pevkur said all Nato countries support the alliance-led Kfor peacekeeping mission, Pevkur said: “We just have to monitor very closely what is happening, and if needed I believe there is a readiness among allies to act.”
Speaking about the implementation of Nato’s new military plans, the Estonian minister said there was a clear message from everyone that it is “member states’ responsibility to give the necessary forces”.
There are still some “understandable gaps”, he said, adding that he hopes more alliance members will cross the goal of spending more than 2% of economic output on defence.
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Estonian minister: 'No assumptions' and '100% support' from allies on undersea infrastructure damage
Speaking to the Guardian after a discussion with Nato ministers about the security of undersea infrastructure, the Estonian defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, said “there was 100% support” from allies when it comes to an investigation into a damaged pipeline and telecommunications cable between Estonia and Finland.
“We have to investigate it as soon as possible, and as quickly as we can,” the minister said in an interview at Nato headquarters in Brussels.
It is “very difficult to say” how long the investigation will take, he said.
Information on marine traffic has already been collected, Pevkur noted, so “we have some understanding who were there, who were not there”.
“But still, with the data connection cable, we need to localise and see the damage,” the minister said, noting that the gas pipeline is “big … so it’s easy to discover and easy to see” whereas the cable is “not so big” and “additional investigations” are needed in the seabed.
The minister underscored that he doesn’t want to speculate about the source of the damage. “We said to the investigators very clearly that you have free hands, and no assumptions – just take the facts.”
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Pressure mounts for Turkey and Hungary to ratify Swedish Nato bid
While fighting in Israel and Gaza has overshadowed discussions at Nato today, some longstanding policy priorities are still in the spotlight – and especially the ongoing saga of Sweden’s Nato membership bid.
Despite repeated promises, Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify Swedish membership. And at the ministers’ meeting, some delegations reiterated the urgency of moving ahead.
Now 31, soon 32#WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/99RkQ7cysD
— UK Joint Delegation to NATO (@UKNATO) October 12, 2023
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Finland has said it cannot exclude the possibility that a “state actor” was behind damage to a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, amid what its national security intelligence service called “significantly deteriorated” relations with Russia.
Nato defence ministers were due to be briefed at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday on the damage to the Balticconnector pipeline between Finland and Estonia as well as the parallel Estlink telecommunications cable, officials said.
Helsinki confirmed the damage, without specifying any details, on Tuesday after one of the pipeline’s two operators, Finland’s Gasgrid, said it had shut it down after registering a sudden drop in pressure shortly before 2am on Sunday.
“Involvement of a state actor in this job cannot be ruled out,” the director of the security intelligence service (Supo), Antti Pelttari, said on Thursday. “Who is behind this is a matter for the preliminary investigation. We do not comment in more detail.”
The incident, which came almost exactly a year after a series of explosions burst three of the four Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to western Europe, has sparked renewed concern over regional energy security and pushed gas prices higher.
Finnish investigators said on Wednesday that they had found marks on the seabed at the scene of the damage, which they had reason to suspect was caused by “an external force” that “appears to have been mechanical, not an explosion”.
Read the full story here.
“Family photo” at the Nato defence ministers’ meeting today in Brussels
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Canada, Germany, the UK and the Baltic states are “coordinating closely” as Nato allies scale up their presence on the alliance’s eastern borders, the Canadian defence minister, Bill Blair, said today as ministers met in Brussels.
Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany lead multinational @NATO battle groups in the Baltic states, and we’re coordinating closely as we scale up our presence. Yesterday, I met with my 🇩🇪🇬🇧🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪 counterparts to discuss our plans to strengthen our deterrence and defence posture.
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) October 12, 2023
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Finland can’t rule out the possibility that a “state actor” was involved in damaging a Baltic Sea gas pipeline and a telecoms cable, the Finnish security intelligence service said today, Reuters reported.
“Involvement of a state actor in this job cannot be ruled out,” the Finnish security intelligence service director, Antti Pelttari, told reporters.
“Who is behind this is a matter for the preliminary investigation. We do not comment on it in more detail,” he added, according to Reuters.
Nato ministers are discussing the incident today.
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Romania raises concern amid 'new evidence' of Russian attack impact
As defence ministers meet in Brussels, in Romania there are growing concerns about the impact of Russian attacks close to the country’s borders. “New evidence of impact was found on Romania’s soil,” wrote the foreign minister, Luminița Odobescu.
Heinous Russian attacks on #Ukraine civilian infrastructure had again serious consequences on #Romania’s territory. New evidence of impact was found on Romania's soil. We call on Russia to stop these #war crimes.
— Luminita Odobescu (@Odobes1Luminita) October 12, 2023
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Pictures from today’s meeting of Nato defence ministers
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'Israel does not stand alone', Nato chief says
The Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said during a session with Israel’s defence minister that the alliance condemned the recent attacks in the strongest possible terms, and that “Israel does not stand alone”.
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No Nato statement on Israel, diplomats say
Two senior European diplomats told the Guardian that for the moment they are not expecting a formal alliance statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza.
Israel’s ambassador to the EU and Nato, Haim Regev, said earlier today that he hoped a statement would be possible.
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One issue defence ministers will discuss today is the implementation of the alliance’s new military plans – and how equipment and troops will be placed on Nato’s sensitive eastern flank.
I touched base with @NATO Secretary General @JensStoltenberg on our ongoing support to Ukraine, and plans to scale up Canada’s presence on the Alliance’s eastern flank. Our commitment to the Alliance is steadfast – and we’ll continue to step up for Allied security. pic.twitter.com/1QAqUIl41y
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) October 12, 2023
#ICYMI: Germany 🇩🇪will increase its military engagement at #NATO’s eastern flank. The plan is to start setting up the new #Bundeswehr brigade for Lithuania 🇱🇹as early as next year. The brigade will be stationed permanently in Lithuania. https://t.co/0yBzS2XvkA
— Germany at NATO (@GermanyNATO) October 12, 2023
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Austin: support for both Israel and Ukraine possible
The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, assured other Nato defence ministers that it was possible to give strong support to both Israel and Ukraine, a US official and a European diplomat told the Guardian.
Yesterday, Austin also stated publicly that “the United States will remain able to project power and to direct resources to tackle crises in multiple theatres, so we will stand firmly with Israel as we continue to support Ukraine”.
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Israeli forces 'not alone', top Nato military official says
Adm Rob Bauer, chair of the Nato military committee, said following a session with Israel’s defence minister that the Israeli military “does not stand alone”.
This morning, as #NATO was briefed by @yoavgallant on the barbaric terrorist attacks against #Israel, my thoughts went out to the young conscripts I met in Tel Aviv just 2 weeks ago: proud, strong & professional.
— Admiral Rob Bauer (@CMC_NATO) October 12, 2023
The @IDF will stand strong. And it does not stand alone. pic.twitter.com/aYtH3Tc3DV
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Estonia seeking answers on undersea infrastructure 'as soon as possible'
Speaking at Nato headquarters this morning, Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur said the security of undersea infrastructure is “one of the most acute topics at the moment for Estonia and Finland.”
Referring to an incident where damage was detected a gas pipeline and a data connection cable, the minister said “there are two investigations ongoing.”
“We are not speculating at the moment about any cause,” he said, adding that the governments would do their best to get information out “as soon as possible” and that an overview would be shared with Nato allies today.
The situation in the Middle East was “very worrying,” the Estonian minister added.
“My message to everyone who is thinking that the west will be disunited,” Pevkur said, is that “we are united – and we will help Ukraine and also Israel”.
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Israel asks Nato for political support
The Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, briefed his Nato counterparts via videoconference this morning.
After the session, the Guardian caught up with Israel’s ambassador to the EU and Nato, Haim Regev, at Nato headquarters.
“The main message of the minister was that it was a savage attack, brutal attack by terrorists – Hamas is Isis – and we are expecting full support,” the ambassador said.
“We do not ask specific things from Nato as Nato,” he added.
“The idea,” the ambassador said, “was to share with Nato what Israel faces since the beginning, since Saturday morning – and the minister focused on that, because it’s important to understand against whom we are standing.”
“It’s black and white,” he insisted. “Israel is fighting against a terror group – not against anybody else.”
Regev said that Israel’s defence minister did mention to his Nato counterparts that Iran was backing and financing Hamas, but that the focus of the short discussion was Gaza.
Ministers were also shown a video showing atrocities.
Ambassador Regev said he felt there was strong backing for Israel in the meeting.
“We would like to see a statement by Nato – strong statement, strong support,” he said.
“For us, it was extremely important that the defence ministers will hear from first-hand what happened,” he added.
Asked whether Israel has asked any specific Nato members – besides the US – for equipment or ammunition, the ambassador said: “Israel is a strong country.”
“We have all the means right now that we need,” he said, noting that with the exception of the US, Israel was not asking for specific assistance.
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Why are Nato ministers worried about undersea infrastructure?
Nato this week promised a “determined” response if damage to an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia proves deliberate, as investigators said traces of an “external, mechanical force” had been found on the seabed.
Amid widespread media speculation about the likelihood of Russian sabotage, Risto Lohi of the Finnish national bureau of investigation told a press conference in Helsinki on Wednesday: “There is reason to suspect an external force … caused the damage.” The force, he added, “appears to have been mechanical, not an explosion”.
The agency’s chief, Robin Lardot, said marks had been found on the seabed at the site of the damage to the Balticconnector pipeline. Its operators said it would take at least five months to repair the pipeline, meaning it was unlikely to come on stream again until April 2024.
But Lardot said the investigation into aggravated vandalism was in its “very early technical stages” and could take several more days because of poor weather and the large search area. The bureau was working to “find facts and analyse them”, he said.
Finnish authorities announced on Tuesday that a sudden fall in pressure in the pipeline recorded on Sunday had been caused by extensive damage that “appeared to be deliberate”.
Read the full story here.
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Germany to allow Israel to use Heron drones
Germany will allow Israel to use two Heron drones the German air force has in use, the German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, announced this morning before the Nato ministers’ session, Reuters reported.
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Nato ministers hold talks with Israeli counterpart as fighting continues
Nato defence ministers are starting their day in Brussels with a special session on the situation in Israel and Gaza. They are joined via videoconference by Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defence minister.
What should we expect out of the meeting?
One senior European diplomat told the Guardian: “Israel is a Nato partner sharing our values, suffering barbaric terrorist attack. I expect solidarity with Israel, condemnation of Hamas terror and recognition of Israel’s right to self-defence.”
A second senior European diplomat also said they expect “expression of solidarity against terrorism with Nato partner Israel … from all allies except Turkey I fear.”
The diplomat said they expected a “dissenting voice from Turkish authorities”.
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Ministers to address 'wide' agenda amid multiple crises
Speaking alongside the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, the Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said this morning that ministers from across the alliance today would be discussing a host of challenges.
The ministers would be “addressing a wide range of issues – how to support Ukraine, our deterrence and defence, Nato’s missions and operations in Kosovo and Iraq”, Stoltenberg said.
“This morning,” the Nato chief noted, “we’ll also be briefed about the horrendous terrorist attacks against Israel over the weekend by Hamas, and we’ll be briefed by the Israeli defence minister.”
Stoltenberg said the military alliance “really” appreciated American leadership on all these issues, but also noted that “European allies and Canada have really stepped up and are also providing substantial support to Ukraine”.
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Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome back to the Europe live blog, which today comes to you from Nato headquarters in Brussels, where ministers from the alliance’s 31 countries are gathering to discuss deterrence and defence.
While this is part of a regular, pre-scheduled meeting, a number of developments from the past weeks – from the war in the Middle East to tensions in Kosovo and fears about possible sabotage of undersea infrastructure – will be high up on the ministers’ agenda.
Stay tuned and send comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.
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