Stoltenberg: Russia is the most immediate threat to our security

THE Jens Stoltenberg spoke to the European Parliament and emphasized that according to him Russia is the greatest immediate threat to the security of the Atlantic Alliance, especially since its inception war in Ukraine.

Its Secretary General NATO he noted that “the important thing about the strategic doctrine is that we agreed as NATO on the strategy of this Alliance in a more dangerous, more competitive and more unpredictable world” and added that “I was present in Lisbon when we agreed the previous Strategic Doctrine. At the time, President Medvedev was present from Russia, participating in a NATO meeting. In the Doctrine we agreed that Russia was a strategic partner. This is not the case in this strategic doctrine. We have clearly said that Russia is the most immediate threat to our security, and China is also mentioned.”

At the same time, he described the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO as a “historic decision”, adding that the ratification by the 30 parliaments of the members of the Alliance is now needed.

“This is good for Finland and Sweden, it is good for the Alliance, it is good for stability in the Euro-Atlantic region and it shows that NATO’s doors are open,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.

He pointed out that “by December, President Putin proposed to NATO the so-called Security Treaty, which we had to sign saying among other things “no more new members to NATO. Sign”. Second, that we must move all troops and infrastructure from NATO members that joined after 1997, meaning that all members on the eastern flank of the Alliance should not have NATO troops or infrastructure.”

“Of course we didn’t accept that, he invaded Ukraine because he wanted less NATO on his borders. What President Putin is getting is more NATO, quite the opposite. More NATO, military presence in the Eastern part of the Alliance and two new members in NATO” he underlined.