Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is taking part in the Meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers today, which will be held, exceptionally, via videoconference due to the Covid-19 crisis.

This meeting will provide an opportunity for the allies to express their unity and solidarity, as well as their determination to work together to combat this pandemic. In this respect, the minister will underscore the importance of the gestures of solidarity provided by the allies, in all frameworks for cooperation, at the bilateral level, within the EU and of course within NATO.

The minister will also discuss the adaptation measures needed to safeguard the alliance's ability to conduct its key missions to ensure our collective security. In addition, he will address the security challenges that the alliance continues to face, notably in the Middle East, and with respect to arms control.

The ministerial meeting will mark the effective launch of a process of reflection on the alliance's future, as determined by the heads of state and government in London in December 2019, at France's initiative. Ten high-level officials have been appointed by the NATO secretary general to conduct this exercise, including Hubert Védrine, former Minister of Foreign Affairs.