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June 14, 2021 "I want Europe to know that the United States is there. Like in the Second World War". Thus US President Joe Biden in his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the Brussels summit. Biden, at his first participation in the new role, stressed that "a strong NATO is good for America and also good for Europe". Especially in times of new challenges, such as Russia "which is not acting consistently with what we had hoped for, and China too". Biden then praised Article 5, which states that "an attack on a NATO member state is an attack on the entire Alliance", calling it a "sacred obligation" and congratulated Stoltenberg on his leadership.



Dragons: "Reaffirm the alliance with the US "

Arriving at NATO headquarters for the summit of the Atlantic Alliance, Prime Minister Mario Draghi reiterated the importance of the summit, which is a "continuation of the G7, is part of the process of rebuilding and reaffirming the fundamental alliances of the United States that they had been weakened by the previous administration. Think that President Biden's first visit is to Europe, try to remember the first of President Trump's visit. " "We are also here for the reaffirmation of the EU. A stronger European Union means a stronger NATO," he said.





The summit


The summit as "a crucial moment for the Alliance and an opportunity to open a new chapter". This was the premise of the meeting of the 30 heads of state and government of the Atlantic Alliance in Brussels as confirmed by the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, with Russia and China at the center of the discussion.



"Our relationship with Russia is at its lowest point since the end of the Cold War, this is because of its aggressive actions", said Stoltenberg, who however announces the dialogue, "not a sign of weakness but of strength". With China - he said before the opening of the meeting - "we can commit to climate and arms control but its aggressive behavior and growing influence pose challenges to the Alliance. He is not our opponent, not our enemy. "



China, crucial issue


That China is a crucial issue can be seen from the statements made by the leaders before the summit. "China does not share our values. We have seen the suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong, the persecution of minorities in parts of the country and population control with technology and social media," said NATO Secretary General Jens. Stoltenberg, recalling that the China issue was never included in the strategic concept (the Alliance's route sheet) and therefore "a common position" must be taken. 



British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today that no NATO member country wants a new Cold War with China, although there are some problems in relations with Beijing. "Russia has become more aggressive than ever. China is eroding space. Freedom must not be taken for granted. NATO must vigorously counter the narrative of authoritarian governments" about the ability to maintain security at the cost of giving up freedoms . "We must do it with a strong and extremely cohesive message. Today at the NATO summit we are determined to do so" also through concrete actions ", Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the German Marshall Fund forum.



Along the same lines, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg: "Beijing's military activities in the South China Sea are not in line with what we believe is good behavior", reiterated, at the same time specifying that it is still "important to seek cooperation" with the China, wherever possible.



NATO 2030


The meeting takes place at the new NATO headquarters in Brussels, after the G7 summit and on the eve of the EU-US summit and the meeting in Geneva between US President Biden and Russian President Putin.



Today's appointment was conceived - in the intentions of Secretary General Stoltenberg and the new American administration - as an important opportunity to reaffirm the highest political level

solidity of the transatlantic link and the unity and cohesion of the Alliance

, in a phase of further adaptation of NATO to the security challenges of an increasingly complex and constantly evolving international context.    



In the foreground, issues relating to

transatlantic security

(including relations with Russia and the implications of China's growth), but above all on the

"NATO 2030"

strategic reflection process

, or rather on the Alliance's ten-year phase of the process adaptation to the new international security context and in which

climate security

will play an important role for the first time

", explains Stoltenberg. The initiative is preparatory to the process of reviewing the strategic concept of NATO (the current one dates back to 2010), which should be completed by next year's summit in Madrid. 



"It's about how to strengthen our collective defense, how to strengthen our resilience and hone our technological edge. And for the first time in NATO history, also making climate and security an important task for our Alliance," he said. said the general secretary. "To do all of this, we need resources for our highest level of ambition. And so we need to invest more," he added. "I welcome the fact that we are on track. We now have seven consecutive years of increasing our defense spending between the European allies and Canada. And these allies added a total of 260 billion dollars extra for defense ", explained the NATO leader again. "I am also confident that NATO leaders will agree to invest more together to meet our highest level of ambition. This is a multiplier of forces and demonstrates the unity of our Alliance. So, I am absolutely certain that the decisions we will all make together today will send a strong message of unity, of resolve and that we are strengthening NATO in an age of global competition, "concluded Stoltenberg.



North


Macedonia for the first time

North

Macedonia is taking part in a NATO summit today for the first time in Brussels, after joining the Atlantic Alliance in March last year, as a 30th member country. "One for all, all for one, since together we are stronger," Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev wrote on Facebook, accompanied by foreign ministers Bujar Osmani and defense ministers Radmila Sekerinska at today's summit. Countries of the former Yugoslavia also include Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.