Lisbon Confidental

NATO leaders agreed over the weekend in Lisbon, Portugal, to a new strategic concept -- designed in part to guide the alliance over the next decade -- that makes missile defense a mission for the 28-member states.

The new concept commits the alliance to:

develop the capability to defend our populations and territories against ballistic missile attack as a core element of our collective defence, which contributes to the indivisible security of the Alliance. We will actively seek cooperation on missile defence with Russia and other Euro-Atlantic partners.

The gathering was also hailed by participants as an opportunity for NATO and Russia to reset relations. The alliance, in the strategic concept, committed to:

enhance the political consultations and practical cooperation with Russia in areas of shared interests, including missile defence, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, counter-piracy and the promotion of wider international security; use the full potential of the NATO-Russia Council for dialogue and joint action with Russia.