Secretary General discusses NATO's adaptation in Norway
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
14 Aug. 2014
NATO must adapt to security challenges such as Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday (14 August) during a visit to Norway. 'For the first time since the end of the Second World War, one country in Europe has seized the land of another by force, and we have to adapt,' he said at a press conference with Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
The Secretary General discussed preparations for the forthcoming NATO summit in Wales (4-5 September) with the prime minister, Foreign Minister Børge Brende and Defence Minister Marie Eriksen Søreide.
'The summit in Wales will be one of the most important in the Alliance's history,' Mr Fogh Rasmussen said. Key themes will be reinforcing NATO's collective defence and strengthening defence investments, he said.
'Of course security has a cost, but insecurity costs more,' he said.
He thanked Norway for its support to NATO's operations in Afghanistan and off the Horn of Africa, and to the issue of women, peace and security.
He said that NATO has consistently offered Russia a partnership, but that Russia has chosen to view NATO as an adversary.
'We regret that, but we have to adapt to it,' he said.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
