The United States and Europe in NATO are stronger and safer, says Stoltenberg

The secretary general of NATO, Jens Stoltenbergstated this Thursday that U.S It is Europe They are stronger and safer together in the Atlantic Alliance, whose creation marks the 75th anniversary today.

“I do not believe in U.S alone, just like I don’t believe Europe alone. I believe in the United States and Europe together in NATO because together we are stronger and safer“, said Stoltenberg in a speech at the anniversary celebration ceremony, before the foreign ministers of the 32 allies.

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The Norwegian politician stressed that Europe needs the United States for its security and that it is “fair burden sharing is essential”.

In this sense, he made it clear that European allies are investing much more in defense and that, this year, the majority will have reached the mark of 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) in military spending.

But at the same time, Stoltenberg emphasized that North America also needs Europe.

“European allies bring world-class armies, vast intelligence that works, and unique diplomatic influence that multiplies American power“, he stated, adding that, given the NATOU.S “It has more friends and more allies than any other great power”.

The ceremony, held in the central square of the Alliance’s new headquarters and livened up with music from the royal orchestras of the Belgian Air Force It’s from Dutch Navywas preceded by a tribute to those who died on NATO missions with the laying of a wreath.

Before him Washington Treaty original, signed on this same day in 1949 by the 12 founding members and which crossed the Atlantic for the first time to be exposed today, Stoltenberg guaranteed that NATO reaches its 75th anniversary “bigger, stronger and more united than ever”.

“I like the Washington Treaty and not just because it is very short, just 14 paragraphs in a few pages. Never has a document with so few words meant so much to so many people.” he declared.

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“So much security, so much prosperity and so much peace, all thanks to the solemn promise to stand together and protect each other, as we have done for 75 years“He continued.

The alliance that saw the light in 1949 “kept our cities safe during the long years of Cold Warof the air bridge Berlin and the Cuban missile crisis until the fall of Berlin Wall,” noted Stoltenberg.

After the fall of Soviet UnionNATO played a leading role in ending ethnic conflicts in Balkans and in 2001, after the attacks of September 11tharticle 5 of Collective defense treaty.

Since then, “NATO”has been on the front line in the fight against terrorism”said Stoltenberg, who highlighted the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, which led to the largest strengthening of the Alliance in generations.

“In the beginning, we had 12 members. Today there are 32 of us. So we must be doing something right. We are helping to spread peace, democracy and prosperity across Europe”, he concluded.

This ceremony also celebrated the 25th, 20th and 15th anniversary of the integration of several Eastern European and Balkan countries into NATO.

“When NATO was founded, my country, Poland, was caught on the wrong side of history (…) Fortunately, the evil empire collapsed“, indicated in his speech the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski.

His Latvian counterpart, Arturs Krisjanis Karinsappreciated the fact that the allies have reinforced NATO’s eastern flank since the invasion of Crimea.

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In addition to the ceremony, allied foreign ministers are participating today in the second day of their usual spring meeting, which includes a NATO-Ukraine Council.

“If support for Ukraine does not continue, if Ukraine cannot defend itself, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine will continue to threaten to continue toward European borders, toward our own NATO borders. If Ukraine cannot continue to defend our freedom, this war threatens to be 8 hours away from Berlin“said the German minister upon arrival, Annalena Baerbock.

“We see that Russia will, unfortunately, be a long-term strategic threat to the Alliance. But we are not weak, quite the contrary, we are very, very strong“, indicated the Finnish owner, Elina Valtonen.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.