Austria signals openness to NATO membership

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has indicated that the country is open to discussing possible NATO membership in response to growing international instability and Russia’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy.

In an interview with Die Welt, Meinl-Reisinger said that Austria cannot rely solely on its traditional neutrality for protection. She emphasised that in today’s uncertain global security environment, the country’s safety depends on both investments in national defense and strong international partnerships, Caliber.Az reports. 

While acknowledging that there is currently no parliamentary or public majority in favour of joining the alliance, the foreign minister expressed support for initiating a broad public debate on the future of Austria’s security and defense strategy.

She said that such a discussion could be valuable, even in the absence of immediate political consensus.

By Sabina Mammadli