NATO and E.U. sign agreement to take partnership 'to the next level'

The European Union is deepening its strategic partnership with NATO in an effort to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine and other growing geopolitical threats.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday to sign an agreement to form closer links among the organizations.

The 27-nation European bloc and 30-nation military alliance already cooperate on counterterrorism and cyber threats, among other critical security issues.

“We are determined to take the partnership between NATO and the European Union to the next level," Stoltenberg told a press conference.

Protecting 96% of E.U. citizens

Building on two previous joint declarations between the organizations signed in 2016 and 2018, leaders said they would strengthen cooperation on a broad range of issues.

“This is a key juncture for Euro-Atlantic security and stability, more than ever demonstrating the importance of the transatlantic bond, calling for closer EU-NATO cooperation,” the E.U. and NATO said in a joint declaration.

"We will further strengthen our cooperation in existing areas," it said, "and expand and deepen our cooperation to address in particular the growing geostrategic competition, resilience issues, protection of critical infrastructures, emerging and disruptive technologies, space, the security implications of climate change, as well as foreign information manipulation and interference."

Due to the war in Ukraine, Stoltenberg emphasized the NATO-E.U. partnership “will become even more important once Finland and Sweden become full NATO members" – with NATO protecting 96% of the E.U.'s citizens and "a higher share of its territory than ever before."