Jens Stoltenberg, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General, emphasized the importance of strong transatlantic ties to European security during a keynote speech at the Munich Security Conference, held between February 18 to 20.
As the Secretary-General met with Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda and Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Russia’s unprovoked military buildup in Ukraine was also a major topic of conversation.
As the Secretary-General called for a peaceful solution, he reminded Russia that the real risk of conflict was there.
Speaking on Sunday’s session of the conference, Stoltenberg urged Russia to change course, to step back from the brink, and to cease preparing for war. According to him, the current crisis is not only about Ukraine’s future, but also about global security.
“Freedom and democracy are contested and strategic competition is on the rise,” Stoltenberg stated, further noting “this is a new normal and we must be prepared.”
The alliance’s Allies are standing together and doing everything possible to protect and defend each other against Moscow’s effort to rewrite history and reshape its sphere of influence, he further stated during the conference.
“Standing together in NATO, Europe and America will continue to keep the peace and protect our democratic way of life,” he said.
In recognition of his accomplishments as NATO Secretary-General, Stoltenberg was awarded the Ewald von Kleist award during the Munich Security Conference.
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