Luxembourg must plan and roll out its defence effort in a responsible, effective, rational and innovative manner. The investments made must be meaningful for our Allies and for Luxembourg’s army. As far as possible, these investments should also be beneficial for the population, the economy and Luxembourg society. Luxembourg must establish new defence structures enabling this effort to be sustained over time. present for more than 15 years in Kosovo as part of KFOR, and since 2003 in Afghanistan alongside other Allied and international troops. For Luxembourg, the challenges stemming from these developments are complex and have profound implications: the stakes are high and the bar has been set higher. This is also true of the expectations made of a prosperous country that has benefited from the stability and security enjoyed on the European continent. A long-term view should therefore be taken in managing resources that are admittedly increasing but nonetheless limited. Positions should be adopted that will strengthen our credibility as a Member State and Ally capable of contributing to collective security. These Luxembourg Defence Guidelines and the future directions they set out for our country will enable the Grand Duchy to respond and adapt to current and future threats. The present situation, characterized by changes in international security, modernization of equipment and a heightened defence effort, must be taken as an opportunity for the Luxembourg Defence and its armed forces. Continuing as though nothing has happened is not an option. Like our country and the world around it, the Luxembourg Defence must look to the future. b. Evolution of Luxembourg’s defence policy For several years, Luxembourg has been facing a dual change process: - at the national level, Luxembourg has evolved. Our country is prosperous, our population continues to grow and this prosperity and growth are rooted in our economy’s ever increasing diversification and openness. Luxembourg is also experiencing a technological evolution, particularly in the field of communications. Our armed forces must confront the challenge of new missions and modernizing technologies in a demographic context that constrains the recruitment of the necessary talent; - at the international level, the security situation has deteriorated, and constant change, instability and a degree of insecurity now seem to be the norm. New threats, more diffuse but no less dangerous, directly or indirectly affect our country’s security. The world is changing rapidly and will continue to change. The commitments made at the 2014 and 2016 NATO Summits and in the European Union have set in motion a profound and lasting change in terms of security and defence at the international level, and entail constant pressure to increase our contribution to common and collective solidarity and defence. Our country, too, must adapt to this change and prepare for the future, in order to defend our national interests, assume our obligations and shoulder our share of responsibility, in solidarity, alongside our partners. The Luxembourg Defence, like the major international institutions and our partner countries, must keep abreast with world developments and adapt to the changes. Faced with constant, unpredictable evolutions in the international security context, new policy directions need to be defined to defend Luxembourg’s security interests and realize its strategic objectives. 21