2024 NATO Washington Summit: Focusing on security in Europe and North America

The 75th Anniversary NATO Summit took place in Washington, D.C., from July 9 to 11, 2024. The Summit hosted heads of state, government leaders and key partners from all 32 NATO member countries to consider current global affairs, challenges and possible solutions that can be implemented within the organization’s framework. 

NATO invited Dr. Ilke Toygür, Director of IE University’s Global Policy Center (GPC), to attend this annual event. The GPC’s presence was significant, given our mission to track and critically assess global economic, policy and political trends. NATO’s importance in the development of these areas cannot be understated, both to its Allies and in the broader global context. 

NATO’s Washington Summit was a key reminder of the unity that defines the world’s longest-enduring security alliance. Representing a cumulative one billion people and over half the world’s economic power, NATO was founded in 1949 as a political and military alliance linking European and North American nations under a common security framework. 

NATO continues to work toward lasting solutions for the collective defense of member states. Its network of agreement signatories is growing, with Sweden being the most recent addition. Several non-member states, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, were also in attendance. This marks the third time these nations have been invited to participate in a NATO Summit, representing the amplification of NATO’s impact beyond Europe and North America.

The themes of this year’s Summit largely revolved around support for Ukraine and its “irreversible” path to NATO membership, highlighted in both the Washington Summit Declaration and the Ukraine Compact. Special attention was placed on bilateral security agreements with Ukraine and sustained military support, both immediate and long-term. Further discussions covered the evolving relations between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea—referred to by some as the “Axis of Upheaval”—and what it means for security in the region.

The tone of the Summit reflected the weight of the 2024 American presidential election. With a renewed emphasis on increased defense spending, 23 member countries fulfilled NATO’s guideline of investing 2% of their GDP into defense to ensure military preparedness. This increased investment may translate into more jobs in American defense-related industries, underscoring NATO's economic value beyond its security benefits. 

On a related note, the Summit addressed technological shifts in the defense industry. As the nature of conflicts continues to evolve, more defense needs are being tackled through innovative solutions provided by tech companies. With a greater capacity for innovation than the traditional defense industrial complex, these companies are positioned to be more reactive to current and ever-changing security needs. However, differing cultures and interests pose numerous unique challenges in advancing this space. 

At the same time, discussions also reflected on the relationship between defense initiatives and climate change, as well as related management efforts. 

Overall, the NATO Washington Summit analyzed potential changes in the global power balance, especially in light of China’s growing influence and Russia’s continuing military operations in Ukraine. NATO further defined its policy in responding to these events now and in the future. Meanwhile, for the GPC, the Summit offered valuable insights into pressing topics of concern surrounding the security issues impacting Europe and North America.