Speech by NATO Secretary General during conversation with POLITICO

Thank you so much.
Thank you for this welcome.
Good afternoon to all of you and many thanks to Politico for hosting this event.
And for giving me the opportunity to address the main issues we are going to address when all the NATO heads of state and government meet in Madrid next week.
And I really expect that this summit in Madrid will be a transformative summit. Because we are at a pivotal time for our security.

President Putin's war against Ukraine is the most urgent threat we face.
It has shattered peace in Europe.

At the same time, we must not forget all the other challenges to our security.
Competition is rising between democracy and authoritarianism.
Moscow and Beijing are openly contesting the rules-based international order.
Terrorism and nuclear proliferation persist.
Cyber-attacks and climate disruptions are on the rise.
All of this affects our security.
Faced with this new security reality, NATO continues to adapt.
At the Summit in Madrid, we will take decisions to strengthen our Alliance,
and keep it agile in this more dangerous world.

Let me highlight five areas.

First, strengthening our defences.

We will do more to ensure we can defend every inch of Allied territory.
At all times and against any threat.

We will adapt the NATO force structure.
With more forces at high readiness.

We will also have more NATO forward deployed combat formations,
to strengthen battlegroups in the East up to brigade level.

And more pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles.

And for the first time since the Cold War,
we will have pre-assigned forces to defend specific Allies.
So that we can reinforce much faster if needed.

All of this builds on the substantial adaptation we have already done since 2014,
when Russia illegally annexed Crimea.

Second, we will agree a new Strategic Concept for NATO.
To guide NATO in a radically changed security environment.

I expect the 2022 Concept will refer to Russia as the most significant and direct threat to our security.

It will address a lot of other challenges that are hardly mentioned in the current strategic concept.
Including climate change, cyber, hybrid, and space.

And, for the first time, we will address China and the challenges it poses to our interests, security and values.

In this context, I welcome that the leaders of our Asia-Pacific partners - Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea - will take part in our Summit for the first time.

This brings me to my third point -NATO partnerships.
We will strengthen our support to Ukraine and other partners at risk.

I am pleased that President Zelensky will address our Summit.
Ukraine is in a critical situation and there is an urgent need to step-up our support.

At the summit, we will agree a new comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine.
It is composed of concrete projects.
To assist in the short term.
Including with anti-drone equipment, secure communications and fuel.

But importantly, we will also look at the longer-term.
Including by assisting Ukraine to transition from Soviet-era military equipment to modern NATO equipment.
Boosting interoperability.
And further strengthening its defence and security institutions.

All of this builds on the significant support provided to Ukraine by NATO and NATO Allies since 2014.
As well as training and equipping Ukrainian forces in addition to financial, humanitarian and military aid.

We will also continue to do more for other partners vulnerable to Russian threats and interference.
Including Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
By stepping up more political and practical support for these partners.
To help strengthen their resilience.
And prevent any future aggression.

Allies are unwavering in their support for the right of each nation to choose its own path.

This is also Finland's and Sweden's right.
And this is my fourth point.
Their decisions to apply for NATO membership are historic.

We are now working actively on the next steps in the accession process of both Finland and Sweden.
And addressing Türkiye's security concerns, including in the fight against terrorism.

My aim is to find a common way forward so that both countries can join our Alliance as soon as possible.

This will make them safer.
NATO stronger.
And the Euro-Atlantic area more secure.

The fifth and last point is burden-sharing.
In Madrid, we will recommit to the pledge we made in 2014.
To spend at least 2% of GDP on defence.

More Allies now reach - or exceed - this target.
A majority have clear plans to reach it.
More and more also see 2% as a floor, not a ceiling.

Allies are also investing more in modern capabilities.
And contributing to NATO deployments and exercises.

This is the right trend.
It shows a real commitment to greater burden-sharing across the whole Alliance.
We must continue to invest more.
And invest more together in NATO.

I can tell you that according to NATO commissioned polling ahead of the Summit,
nearly 80% [78%] of Allied citizens support maintaining or increasing defence spending.

The same polls indicate that support for NATO membership is at a very high level.
Over 70% [72%] support their country's membership in NATO.

So support continues to rise.
And this matters.
Because a strong NATO is essential to preserve peace,
prevent conflict,
and protect our people and our values.
Now and in the future.
Thank you so much and then I'm ready for your questions.

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