Strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities is not an alternative to NATO – Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the EU's policy to strengthen their own defense capabilities "is not an alternative to NATO" when commenting on Donald Trump's recent anti-bloc comments.

The NATO chief responded to a question from the press about whether the statements of the presumptive US presidential candidate Donald Trump about the unwillingness to defend its European allies meant the "beginning of the end" for NATO.

"I welcome that European Allies are investing more in defense. NATO has called for that for many, many years, and NATO has also called for European Allies to invest more in high-end capabilities, more forces, and high readiness. Now, European Allies are delivering that, and that is a good thing. But that is not an alternative to NATO," Stoltenberg replied.

"That is actually a way to strengthen NATO, and we should not pursue any path that indicates that we are trying to divide Europe from North America. The strength is that we have Europe and North America together in NATO. "

Stoltenberg said that NATO allies, not members of the EU, cover 80% of the Alliance's defense spending.

An important ally like Turkey provides stability to NATO's southern flank. In the north, Norway and Iceland, which do not have significant military power, nevertheless play a critical role in maintaining the transatlantic link and protecting communications between America and Europe.

"So the strength of NATO is that we bring Europe and North America together; together, we have 50% of the roles of economic might; 50% of the roles of military might, so as long as we stand together, we are able to send a message to any adversary that we are able to protect all Allies."

Stoltenberg noted that Article 5 of the Washington Treaty has been and remains the basis of transatlantic security and the Alliance's powerful capabilities, where everyone acts on the principle of "one for all, all for one."

"As far as nuclear weapons are concerned. NATO has a nuclear deterrent, and it has worked well for decades. We have to make sure that this nuclear deterrent remains safe and secure.

We have agreed on the necessary governance procedures and developed the appropriate doctrine. This is the result of a joint effort between the United States and our European allies. We should not do anything that could undermine (this deterrent). This could create more uncertainty and more grounds for misunderstandings and miscalculations."

A meeting of NATO defense ministers is taking place in Brussels on February 15, during which a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council will be held. Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is expected to participate in the event via teleconference.