NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg Meets With Biden, Blinken
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is visiting Washington D.C. to discuss the implications of Russia’s war in Ukraine and preparations for the NATO Summit in Madrid with senior U.S. officials.
At the White House, the Secretary General met President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday (2 June 2022). The Secretary General thanked the United States for its great leadership, both in support of Ukraine and support of the transatlantic Alliance.
“President Putin wanted less NATO and therefore he invaded Ukraine, but he is getting more NATO, with more NATO presence in the eastern part of the Alliance and also with more members,” he said. The two leaders discussed the united response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, further strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence, and preparations for the upcoming Madrid Summit of Allied leaders.
According to the White House, the US Administration also welcomed the applications by Finland and Sweden for NATO membership, and President Biden conveyed his strong support for efforts by Secretary General Stoltenberg to facilitate a rapid accession process that addresses the security concerns of all Allies.
The Secretary General also met US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to address support for Ukraine, NATO’s work to strengthen deterrence and defence for a more dangerous security environment, and progress on burden-sharing and defence spending across the Alliance.
Meeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday (1 June 2022), the Secretary General thanked the United States for its indispensable role in NATO’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They also discussed NATO’s Open Door policy.
The Secretary General described the decisions by Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership as historic. He stressed that the security concerns of all Allies have to be addressed, and said “I am confident that we will find a united way forward.” To this end, he said he was in close contact with President Erdogan of Turkey, and the leaders of Finland and Sweden, and announced he would convene senior officials from all three countries in Brussels in the coming days.