Roundtable Discussion with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic

While NATO’s recent actions in Libya and continued involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq have been celebrated by some and derided by others, NATO continues to emphasize its positive impact on the international stage. With its spring 2012 Chicago summit fast approaching, NATO is working to define the key themes that will not only shape its summit program but will guide the organization’s continued evolution.

On September 16, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable discussion with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. She stated that NATO’s primary focus areas in the year ahead revolve around reinforcing existing bonds among NATO members—particularly the United States and European nations—while also continuing to strengthen collaborative working relationships with nonmembers. Ambassador Grabar-Kitarovic highlighted a number of areas in which NATO has played and can continue to play a positive role, including making progress in Afghanistan, maintaining stability in Libya and working on missile defense agreements with Russia.