– Early in 2014, when I was asked if I wanted to take over the job as NATO’s Secretary General, I did as I usually do, I asked my father for advice, Stoltenberg began in his speech, before adding. – He said that not much happened in NATO, Stoltenberg said with subsequent laughter from the audience. He went on to mention several examples of how this turned out not to be true: the war in Ukraine, the rise of IS, growing competition with China, the covid-19 pandemic and climate change. – The list is not exhaustive. The official farewell day for Stoltenberg is 1 November this year. Then former Ap Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was Secretary General of the defense alliance NATO for almost ten years. Five lessons Stoltenberg said in his speech that he was proud to lead NATO over the past decade. He highlighted five lessons which he believes are the key to NATO’s further success. Money for defense – The first thing is that we must be willing to pay the price for peace, says Stoltenberg. He emphasized that member countries have increased spending on defense in recent years, and that this is good. – The bad news is that this will not be enough. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in connection with NATO’s 75th annual meeting in July. Photo: Nathan Howard / Reuters He urged the member states to increase spending on defense above 2 percent of gross domestic product, which is today’s stated goal for NATO. Freedom over free trade The second lesson was that freedom is more important than free trade. Stoltenberg referred to the dependence on Russian gas before the war in Ukraine broke out. – We must not make the same mistake with China, he added. He also talked about the threat that less trade between member states, or increased protectionism, poses to NATO’s strength. – Protectionism between allies does not protect our security. Instead, Stoltenberg argued that trade between member states helped to strengthen the countries’ economies, and thus also NATO. Military power is a prerequisite for dialogue The third lesson is that military strength is a prerequisite for dialogue. – I know this from my time as prime minister in Norway. Dialogue only works when it has a strong military defense behind it. Stoltenberg cited Russia as an example. – The fastest way to end the war is to lose, but that will not lead to peace. It will lead to Russian occupation. He said that a strong Ukrainian defense was a necessity to get President Vladimir Putin to the mediation table. He also reiterated that NATO’s doors are open to Ukrainian membership. But it has its limits The fourth lesson Stoltenberg mentions is that military force has its limits. – I saw that clearly with Afghanistan. He said it was right to enter Afghanistan after the terrorist attack on 11 September 2001, and that the mission to prevent the country from becoming a safe harbor for terrorists was not in vain. – But, the Afghanistan mission lasted too long. He said that when he started in 2014, the plan was to complete the military assignment within a couple of years, and then move on to more political assignments. – But seven years later I was still there with thousands of troops. He said there was no reason to believe that staying there for 20 years would have given a different outcome. – The lesson is that the purpose of any future operation outside NATO’s territory must be clearly defined, and we must be honest about what we can and cannot achieve, Stoltenberg said. Don’t take NATO for granted The last, and most important lesson, according to Stoltenberg, is not to take the bond between Europe and North America for granted. – NATO is not written in stone. It is the result of conscious choice and political will, said Stoltenberg. He referred to voices on both sides of the Atlantan who have advocated a break between Europe and North America. He ended the speech by saying that he does not know what awaits NATO in the future. – But I am sure of one thing. While the challenges we face may change, the answer is the same: We are stronger and safer, Europe and North America, together in NATO, Stoltenberg concluded. Waiting to talk about life after NATO Stoltenberg has said in an earlier interview with news that he has not decided what he will do after he steps down. But according to closed sources the newspaper Politico has spoken to, the outgoing NATO leader will take over as leader of the International Security Conference in Munich. After the speech today, he was asked about this position. – I am still responsible for NATO for a couple more weeks, Stoltenberg began. – I do not want to talk about what I will do after NATO as long as I am in NATO. When I leave NATO, maybe you can ask me again, he said to the journalist who held the interview after the farewell speech. Published 19.09.2024, at 15.58 Updated 19.09.2024, at 21.21
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