NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana met with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Ambassador Peter Maurer at NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (8 July 2020) for an exchange of views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and on the activities of both organisations. Mr. Geoana noted that during the COVID-19 crisis there have been regular contacts between NATO and the ICRC at multiple levels.

He said that NATO Allies are preparing for a possible second wave of COVID-19 and highlighted that in June NATO defence ministers approved an Operation Plan to assist, if necessary, Allies and partners in the distribution of critical medical items and equipment. He said that NATO defence ministers also agreed to establish a stockpile of medical items and a pandemic response trust fund to enable NATO Allies to acquire medical supplies and services.

The Deputy Secretary General also stressed that NATO appreciates the ICRCs support on the implementation of NATOs Policy on the Protection of Civilians and that this is an essential topic for NATO operations and missions.

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NATO Deputy Secretary General meets the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross at NATO Headquarters - NATO HQ