More Details on NATO's New Strategic Concepts

More details are emerging about the direction of NATO in the future.

NATO states must reverse a steep decline in defense spending despite economic constraints if the alliance is to meet the security threats it faces, experts said on Monday.

In a recommendation for NATO's new 10-year strategic vision, experts led by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said only six of NATO's 26 European members were meeting their defense spending target of two percent of GDP.

In the coming decade, NATO would not only have to meet its main goal of collective defense of its 28 members, but deploy forces further afield and guard against unconventional threats such as terrorism and cyber attack, the experts said.

"If NATO is to fulfill these ... missions successfully, it must halt the precipitous decline in national defense spending, implement new reforms and efficiencies, and set priorities for future capabilities," the experts said.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will use the recommendations from the experts to draft a new Strategic Concept, or mission statement, for approval by leaders of NATO states at a summit in Lisbon in November.

By: Brant