NATO sees Russia and terrorism as the greatest "threats" to its security, while it sees China as a "systemic challenge".

This is what the thirty Member States said in the final declaration of their summit meeting in Brussels on Monday.

They also warned of attacks on their computer networks and satellites in space.

This could cause considerable damage and be seen as an “armed attack” that would trigger the alliance case.

The allies would decide this "on a case-by-case basis."

Thomas Gutschker

Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.

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    American President Joe Biden made an unequivocal commitment to the transatlantic partnership at his first NATO meeting.

    "NATO is critically important to American interests," said Biden when he arrived at Alliance headquarters.

    The mutual assistance clause is a "sacred obligation".

    Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO was opening a “new chapter” - after the tense Trump era.

    The communiqué begins with this formulation.

    With regard to China, which appears for the first time in such a text, it says: "The self-declared ambitions of China and its specific demeanor represent systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and in areas that are important for the security of the Alliance." NATO is committed to a “constructive dialogue” with the country “where that is possible”. Last but not least, Germany had campaigned for this balanced position. After the meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel campaigned for the alliance to develop its own dialogue format with China.

    The heads of state and government gave Stoltenberg the task of working out a new strategic concept by the next meeting in a year. They also adopted core elements of a reform agenda called “NATO 2030”. This includes more political consultations in the alliance, the expansion of partnerships and a contribution by the military to climate protection. According to a needs analysis, the joint budget of the alliance is to be increased from 2023 onwards.