Keynote speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Berlin Security Conference

Thank you so much General Wolski, Reinhard.
It is good to see you again.

And ladies and gentlemen,
It is always a pleasure to be back in Germany.
And thank you so much for inviting me to the Berlin Security Conference.
And I am also delighted, of course, that Norway is supporting this year's Berlin Security Conference.

Germany is a key NATO Ally that makes significant contributions to our Alliance.
Your leadership is more important than ever, as we face the most serious security situation in decades.
And we need to stand together and act together in the face of these extremely challenging security challenges.

President Putin's war of aggression has shattered peace in Europe.
With long-lasting shockwaves for global security.

I am coming from our Foreign Ministerial meeting in Bucharest,
where we pledged to maintain our strong support for Ukraine.
And it was a clear and strong message from all Allies that we will sustain our support,
and to continue to bolster our defences in a more dangerous and competitive world.

Thanks to the heroic resistance of the Ukraine people,
and the unprecedented support from NATO Allies,
Ukraine has made significant gains.

But we should not underestimate Russia.
Russian missiles and drones continue to rain down on Ukrainian cities, civilians, and critical infrastructure.
Causing enormous human suffering, as winter sets in.

I welcome Germany's strong support for Ukraine.
With significant financial, humanitarian and military aid.
Including advanced air defence systems.
And training for Ukrainian soldiers.

We see the difference this makes every day on the battlefield.
And it is important to further step up and sustain our support.

Yes, our support comes with a price.
These are tough times for many around the world.
Including here in Germany.
With rising costs of living, food and energy prices.

But the price we pay is in money.
While the price the Ukrainians pay is in blood.
If authoritarian regimes see that force is rewarded we will all pay a much higher price.
And the world will become a more dangerous world for all of us.

There can be no lasting peace if the aggressor wins.
If oppression and autocracy prevail over freedom and democracy.
So the best way to support lasting peace is to support Ukraine.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine did not come as a surprise.
Months before the attack NATO shared intelligence showing that Russia was planning to invade Ukraine.
And despite all our efforts to find a diplomatic solution Putin went ahead with his plans.

NATO was well prepared.
Within hours after the invasion we activated our defence plans.
And deployed thousands of troops to the Eastern part of the Alliance.
Supported by substantial air and naval capabilities.
To send a clear message to Moscow.
And prevent escalation of the war beyond Ukraine.

Germany's decision to substantially increase defence spending is historic.
With investments in new fighter jets, helicopters, ships, and submarines.

This is truly a Zeitenwende.
A turning point that reflects our changed security environment.

Germany plays a critical role in the strengthening of our deterrence and defence.
Leading our battlegroup in Lithuania.
Assigning a combat brigade to reinforce if needed.
Providing more jets for our air policing.
And strengthening our air defences.

All these efforts need to be stepped up and sustained.
We need a strong and ready Bundeswehr with high-end capabilities across all domains.
We need a strong and robust defence industry that can deliver on the requirements, based on clear and sustainable demand signals.

This matters for Germany's security.
It matters for Europe's security.
And it matters for global security.

The war in Ukraine has also demonstrated our dangerous dependency on Russian gas.
This should lead us to assess our dependencies on other authoritarian states, not least China.
For our supply chains, technology and infrastructure.

We will, of course, continue to trade and engage economically with China.
But we have to be aware of our dependencies.
Reduce our vulnerabilities.
And manage the risks.

So ladies and gentlemen,
As Europe's largest economy and a responsible global actor,
I count on Germany.
As I count on all Allies.
To stay the course on Ukraine.
To further strengthen our collective defence.
And to bolster the resilience of our societies.

So thank you.
And I look forward to your questions.
Thank you so much.

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