Football offers NATO respite from ugly divisions
Football came to the rescue of tense NATO leaders at a summit on 11 July, providing them with a welcome diversion from the tensions roiling the transatlantic military alliance.
The group is facing one its most difficult meetings in years due to US President Donald Trump's criticism of the organisation and his targeting of German leader Angela Merkel.
But with the World Cup semi-finals in NATO's traditional adversary Russia made up exclusively of members of the western military alliance, the heads of state and government in Brussels were able to turn to football to lighten the atmosphere.
British Prime Minister Theresa May exchanged a team jersey with her Croatian counterpart ahead of the England-Croatia semi-final clash on 11 July night.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel tweeted a pictured of May smiling with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, saying that everything was ‘still all ok’ between the on-pitch rivals.
The Croatian president also gave May a shirt – and one to Trump with his surname emblazoned on the back, even though the US did not compete in the World Cup finals.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel meanwhile teased French President Emmanuel Macron about 10 July’s game between their countries that saw France win 1-0 to book a place in the final on 15 July.
Michel said with a smile: ‘Frankly Emmanuel, yesterday the French team was very lucky.’
But he suggested the sport could provide an example to the military alliance.
Michel said: ‘Like in football, fair-play and team spirit are what we need more than ever.’
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg declined to say which team he was supporting when asked by reporters.
‘Representing 29 nations I will not pick any specific team I would like to win,’ he said, adding that his own country Norway had not qualified for the finals in Russia.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Estonia opts for smart, adaptable and cooperative solutions in the face of Russian threat]()
Estonia opts for smart, adaptable and cooperative solutions in the face of Russian threat
Estonian-made equipment is being put through the toughest of evaluations in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers resisting the full-scale Russian invasion which began in 2022. The country has long seen the threat and is continuing to adapt for the future.
-
![Estonia boosting defence industry with lessons from Ukraine, says country’s economic minister]()
Estonia boosting defence industry with lessons from Ukraine, says country’s economic minister
Estonia is looking to boost its local defence industry with directed funding, industry parks, support through international orders for equipment and rapid prototyping.
-
![UK faces cost of balancing defensive capabilities abroad as Iran conflict widens]()
UK faces cost of balancing defensive capabilities abroad as Iran conflict widens
The UK has recently deployed a Type 45 destroyer to Cyprus and has bolstered its presence in the Middle East in recent weeks with supporting air power to protect neighbouring countries’ air defences.
-
![White House calls on Pentagon contractors to “rapidly and aggressively” boost weapon production]()
White House calls on Pentagon contractors to “rapidly and aggressively” boost weapon production
Intended to sustain Operation Epic Fury against Iran, efforts to increase the production of weapons and ammunition could expose long-standing weaknesses in the US defence industrial base.
-
![India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict]()
India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict
The latest escalation between Iran and Israel could shape New Delhi’s next-generation shield as India deepens cooperation with Israel on missile defence and drone production.
-
![Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?]()
Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?
The Pentagon spent a considerable number of THAAD and SM-3 rounds to defend against Iranian missiles in 2025 and has not fully replenished its reserves.
