Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg concluded his visit to New York after attending the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, Friday (September 27, 2024). During his trip, he stressed the importance of continued support for Ukraine, the value of NATO, and the benefits of strengthening global partnerships. The NATO headquarters in Brussels distributed a statement just two days before the end of his term as Secretary-General of the Alliance, which included the most prominent activities in which Stoltenberg participated, including: On Thursday, the Secretary-General spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations. In response to Russia's revised nuclear doctrine, he described Moscow's rhetoric as "dangerous and reckless" and said that Russia "cannot force us to support Ukraine." He pointed out that NATO allies continue to provide unprecedented military support to Ukraine and that NATO plays a crucial role, including through the leadership agreed upon at the Washington Summit in July. “If you want a peaceful Europe, you need a stable Ukraine,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. Ensuring peace for Ukraine means providing military support and credible security guarantees, he said, noting that the most credible guarantee is Article 5 of the NATO Charter. The Secretary-General spoke about how the Alliance has strengthened its defences since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, including by increasing battle groups and high-readiness forces on the eastern flank, and increasing defence investments. On partnerships, Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that in the face of global challenges – such as terrorism, cyberattacks and growing competition with China – it is essential to work more closely with partners who share our values, including in the Indo-Pacific region. While in New York, Mr. Stoltenberg attended a commemorative event marking the 20th anniversary of the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. He also met with leaders and senior officials including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Crown Prince Kuwait’s Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and US Secretary of Defense Mike Bloomberg, Chairman of the Defense Innovation Board. On Monday (September 23), the Secretary-General received the Concordia Leadership Award at their annual summit.