BRUSSELS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow on Thursday addressed key objectives for NATO's Warsaw Summit during his visit in Lisbon.
In a keynote speech at the Portuguese Parliament, Vershbow on Thursday outlined three key objectives of the Warsaw Summit in July: enhancing NATO's collective defense and deterrence, projecting stability beyond the Alliance's borders and expanding cooperation with the European Union.
Addressing NATO's adaptation to current security challenges, Vershbow stressed that the Alliance's maritime capabilities are essential.
"We are refining our presence in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and exploring a greater maritime role for NATO in the Mediterranean Sea, including in support of the European Union's Operation Sophia," he said.
Vershbow added the Warsaw Summit will guide the Alliance's future direction, ensuring that NATO remains "an essential source of stability in an uncertain and unpredictable world."
In his speech, Vershbow also praised Portugal's unique and long-standing contribution to the Alliance and the transatlantic bond.
