IRIA News

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the United States to discuss the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington, the Allies’ support for Ukraine, and common security challenges in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.

During his meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the NATO secretary general emphasized the urgency to continue support for Ukraine. He said, “Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine is nearing the two-year mark, and a Russian victory would embolden Iran, North Korea, and China. That matters for Europe’s security and it matters for America’s security. So supporting Ukraine serves U.S. interests.”

Stoltenberg thanked the Secretary of State Blinken for his commitment to NATO and highlighted that the United States has helped Ukraine eliminate a major part of Russian combat capacity only by spending “a tiny fraction of annual defense spending” and without the loss of a single American soldier.

The United States will continue to work with our @NATO Allies to defend the values of freedom, independence, and sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/uV0TnpA9St

— Department of State (@StateDept) January 30, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said during a joint press conference with Stoltenberg, “NATO is advancing with a sense of urgency and a strong sense not only of unity of purpose but unity of action.”

Blinken stressed that the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington is going to be “the most ambitious summit since the end of the Cold War” and demonstrate NATO’s adaptation to new challenges and threats.

The NATO secretary general also that during the upcoming NATO Summit, the Allies will “take further steps to bolster NATO’s strength, invest more in our defense, and work with partners around the world.”

Stoltenberg added, “Through NATO, the U.S. has more friends and allies than any other power. Together we make up 50 percent of the world’s economic and military might. China and Russia have nothing like NATO… NATO makes the U.S. stronger and safer, and all of us more secure.”

During his visit to Washington D.C., NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin underscored the United States’ commitment to ensuring NATO’s enduring strength and applauded Stoltenberg for his leadership in keeping NATO united and resolute in facing the challenge. Austin said, “NATO is the most powerful and successful alliance in history. And we’re going to keep it that way.”

Stoltenberg and Austin also discussed the Russia-Ukraine war, and the NATO secretary general said that the Allies’ support for Ukraine is not charity, rather “it’s an investment in our own security because the world will become more dangerous if [Russian] President Putin wins in Ukraine.”

According to the U.S. Department of Defense statement, the two leaders also discussed ways “to further strengthen the alliance, as member countries prepare to meet at next month’s meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.”

On January 30, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader of the House Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Leader of the Senate Mitch McConnell, as well as other Democratic and Republican Representatives and Senators in Washington D.C.

During his meeting with the U.S. Congressional leadership, Stoltenberg praised the U.S. for its support to Ukraine and highlighted that “this support remains decisive for Ukraine’s survival and Europe’s stability,” the NATO statement read.

Stoltenberg also highlighted the importance of keeping NATO strong through increased defense investment, welcoming increases across all Allies in recent years. The NATO secretary general also met with the Co-Chairs of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee leadership.

While in the U.S., the NATO Secretary General will also travel to Troy, Alabama to visit the Missiles and Fire Control Facility of Lockheed Martin, and conclude his trip by visiting the headquarters of the U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.