The King commended NATO’s achievements in creating a shield for peace and freedom, though he also urged them to reflect. Member states need to ask whether the alliance is ready for the threats of today and whether those burdens and benefits are being shared out exactly equally, he said.

“These are questions that are all the more pertinent given that the threat we face from Russia and other hostile states is evolving in ways we’ve never seen before – both in terms of scale and its complexity – from Russian aggression on land in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria, to a sustained campaign of Russian cyber espionage and disruption, from Russia’s use of terrorists and gangsters to target our country - yes I am referring to the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 - and to interference in free elections - yes I am referring to Russian interference in the Macedonian elections - to the attacks that Russian hackers have perpetrated against Britain’s national infrastructure.



NATO’s Global Reach at Royal Event onCreateOptionsMenu Surrender yourself to these autumnal camps, for adults only.

King Willem-Alexander mentioned in particular the article 3 of the NATO Treaty, in which the member states sign on to “contribute to maintaining and developing their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack”. He also gave a warm welcome to the Am.