(L-R) Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg Minister of Defence; Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary General of NATO; Credit: NATO

On Thursday 12 February 2026, Luxembourg Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes participated in the meeting of Defence Ministers from NATO member states.

As reported by the Directorate of Defence, in the morning, during the working session of the North Atlantic Council, discussions focused on burden-sharing, following the decisions taken at the Hague Summit in June 2025 regarding the increase in defence efforts.

“As the Ankara Summit approaches, let us remember that unity and solidarity will remain the true measures of our success,” said Yuriko Backes, emphasising that “we do not defend ourselves with percentages, but with new capabilities, with forces and with men and women in uniform.”

According to the Directorate of Defence, the ministers discussed strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture, as well as the need to convert financial commitments into operational military capabilities and deployable forces. 

“European allies are intensifying their efforts. Luxembourg is stepping up its contributions, and we are ready and willing to assume a greater share of the burden for the deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic area, fully engaged in NATO missions, operations and activities, particularly on the eastern flank,” stressed Yuriko Backes.

On the same day, an informal NATO–Ukraine Council meeting took place, during which the Defence Ministers of NATO countries, together with their Ukrainian counterpart, Mykhailo Fedorov, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, exchanged views on the military support provided to Ukraine according to Ukraine’s operational needs.

Moreover, at NATO headquarters, Minister Backes also participated in the 33rd meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), co-chaired by Germany’s Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, and the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey. During the UDCG, Defence Ministers from around fifty partner countries of Ukraine reviewed the battlefield situation and the priorities regarding the equipment needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.