Appeal to the NATO countries
Stoltenberg: “I don’t believe in America alone”
April 4, 2024, 11:07 a.m
At their summit in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg called for close cooperation between North Americans and Europeans. Together they are “safer and stronger,” he says.
At a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for cohesion between North America and Europe. “Two world wars, the Cold War and every challenge we have faced since then have taught us that we need each other,” said the Norwegian at the ceremony with the foreign ministers of the alliance states in Brussels. “I don’t believe in America alone,” Stoltenberg said. “Just as I don’t believe in Europe alone. I believe in America and Europe together,” he emphasized in his speech. However, “fair sharing of the burden” of defense spending is essential.
“European allies have world-class military forces, extensive intelligence networks and unique diplomatic influence that multiply America’s power,” said Stoltenberg. Through NATO, the United States would have more friends and more allies than any other great power. “Together we are stronger and safer,” said Stoltenberg. At the same time, however, a fair distribution of burdens is essential.
Announcement to Trump
With his statements, Stoltenberg was probably primarily aimed at former US President Donald Trump, who will be running for the Republicans again in the US election in November, and his party. During his term in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump repeatedly criticized NATO and at times even threatened that the USA would withdraw from the alliance.
Most recently, he made it clear during the election campaign that he would not provide American support to allies who, in his opinion, had too little defense spending in the event of a Russian attack. In an interview, he said that one should not forget that NATO is more important for Europe than for the USA, because there is an ocean, “a beautiful, big, beautiful ocean” between the USA and “some problems” in Europe.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock from the Greens said that the NATO motto: “One for all and all for one” still applies. In view of Russia’s brutal war of aggression in Ukraine, NATO is “the best protective umbrella not only for our security, for our peace, but also the best protective umbrella for our democracy.”
Stoltenberg wants 100 billion funds for Ukraine
At the summit, Stoltenberg also brought up a new aid fund of 100 billion euros. He hopes for a decision by the NATO anniversary summit in Washington in July. The NATO Secretary General wants to make aid to Ukraine longer-term and more reliable than is currently the case with bilateral aid and the Ramstein format initiated by the USA. An ulterior motive is also to make aid to Ukraine less dependent on the USA. On the one hand, US President Joe Biden cannot get his billion-dollar Ukraine military package through Congress. On the other hand, there are fears that US support could come to a complete standstill if Trump returns to the White House.
At a first debate on Wednesday, Germany and other large countries such as Spain reacted cautiously and demanded further information about how the funds would be used. Foreign Minister Baerbock welcomed a stronger role for NATO in coordinating aid to Ukraine. But one has to be careful that there is no duplication, because the EU already has a fund worth billions for military aid to Ukraine. With 32 NATO and 27 EU countries, there are numerous overlaps, said Baerbock, also alluding to the billion-dollar EU pot for military aid for Ukraine.
However, according to the Latvian department head Krisjanis Karins, there is support among NATO foreign ministers for the plan for a five-year fund worth 100 billion euros. Stoltenberg’s suggestions were generally received positively, said Karins.
The 32 NATO foreign ministers want to celebrate the 75th birthday of the Western defense alliance this Thursday. They will also meet their Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba in the NATO-Ukraine Council. This is also about helping Ukraine in its defense against Russia. The two youngest alliance members Finland and Sweden will also take part in the meeting. “Democratic nations and free people have chosen to join NATO, unlike Russia, which is expanding through annexation or illegal aggression,” said Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.