NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg presented on Wednesday in Madrid the document adopted by the Allies setting out the organization’s strategic concept for the next decade and reiterating member countries’ commitment to Ukraine.
NATO will strengthen its presence in Eastern Europe and increase the number of high-readiness soldiers to 300,000, Stoltenberg announced during a press briefing after the first plenary of the NATO Summit. Alliance which is held on Wednesday and Thursday in Madrid.
“The allies have re-engaged. We will devote at least 2% of GDP to defence. Nine allies are already meeting or exceeding this goal and the rest have plans to reach it. This two percent is considered a base, not a ceiling. And we have agreed to fund the common NATO budget to improve facilities and increase training and exercises,” he said.
“Strategic competition is intensifying around the world. This is why a new strategic concept has been adopted, in which it is clear that Russia today poses the most dangerous and direct threat, and that China’s policies also jeopardize our interests and our security. “, argues the Secretary General of NATO.
Stoltenberg clarified that NATO has adopted a new methodology to monitor and reduce the Alliance’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050. “We cannot choose between having strong armies and green armies. We have to have both,” he insisted.
The Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance also confirmed that, following the agreement reached on Tuesday evening with Turkey, Sweden and Finland will be invited to join NATO.
“It is the result of hard work for many weeks. Tuesday evening we met and we were able to reach a final agreement. A good deal for Turkey, a good deal for Finland and Sweden, and a good deal for NATO,” Stoltenberg said.
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