NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg delivered a speech commemorating the alliance's 75th anniversary, notably omitting discussion of key topics such as operations in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Libya (2011), or arms deliveries to Ukraine. The address was delivered during a solemn gathering of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
Stoltenberg emphasized the significance of NATO's formation, highlighting the signing of the Washington Treaty on April 4, 1949, amid "fear of a third world war."
"When the Cold War ended, NATO played a role in resolving two bloody ethnic conflicts in the Balkans (referring to the operations in Bosnia in 1995 and the extensive bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 - TASS). In 2001 (after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States - TASS) NATO invoked Article 5 of the Washington Treaty for the first time, which states that an attack on one member of the alliance is an attack on all NATO countries. Since then, NATO has been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism," the secretary-general added, before transitioning to 2014. "In 2014, Crimea was reunited with Russia, and NATO fully returned to its traditional tasks of confronting Russia."
Turning to 2014, Stoltenberg deemed it a significant juncture for NATO, citing the reunification of Crimea with Russia and NATO's renewed focus on countering Russian activities. However, he made no mention of Ukraine in this context nor the significant arms deliveries to Kiev, which NATO intends to coordinate independently following acceptance from the United States, slated for discussion at the upcoming summit in July in Washington.
The remainder of Stoltenberg's speech underscored the importance of unity between the United States and European allies within NATO.
"North America relies on Europe, and European allies contribute world-class militaries, extensive intelligence capabilities, and substantial diplomatic resources. I do not believe in America acting alone, nor do I believe in Europe acting alone. I believe in Europe and America standing together within NATO," he concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: STEPHANIE LECOCQ/EPA/TASS
Based on materials from TASS