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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