{"id":22439,"date":"2024-04-27T00:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T21:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=22439"},"modified":"2024-04-26T23:27:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T20:27:34","slug":"nato-secretary-general-stoltenberg-visits-germany-to-discuss-security-issues-and-ukraine-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/nato-secretary-general-stoltenberg-visits-germany-to-discuss-security-issues-and-ukraine-war\/","title":{"rendered":"NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg visits Germany to discuss security issues and Ukraine war"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Berlin to meet with German leadership, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and members of the Foreign Affairs and the Defense Committee, to discuss common security threats and NATO’s support for Ukraine.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his visit to Berlin, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg thanked German Chancellor Scholz for his country’s leading role in NATO and support for Ukraine and said, \u201cGermany makes major contributions to our shared security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stoltenberg underscored that Germany is bolstering its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance by deploying a brigade to Lithuania and increasing its contributions to Baltic Air Policing. He also highlighted that \u201cGermany has committed 12,000 troops to Steadfast Defender, the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NATO secretary general applauded the German Chancellor\u2019s \u201chistoric and very important Zeitenwende\u201d for leading to major increases in defense spending. He said, \u201cThe fact that Germany now invests 2% of GDP in defense matters for all Allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATO chief Stoltenberg and German Chancellor also discussed the ongoing support for Ukraine. Stoltenberg pointed out the crucial support of Germany to Ukraine and said, Germany is the biggest European contributor of military aid for Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"NATO<\/a>
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg holding a bilateral meeting with the Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz. (Image Credit: NATO)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stoltenberg said, \u201cI strongly believe that other Allies should follow the example of Germany.\u201d He added that other NATO Allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, have also stepped up support for Ukraine. \u201cIt is our responsibility to turn these contributions into deliveries quickly,\u201d the NATO chief said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the NATO statement, Stoltenberg warned that the Allies must \u201cremain vigilant regarding covert Russian activities across the Alliance\u201d and noted that Germany has arrested individuals accused of espionage and sabotage in connection with hostile state activity to benefit Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNATO Allies stand in full solidarity with Germany and the United Kingdom. Such acts are dangerous and unacceptable. They will not deter us from providing support to Ukraine, and we are coordinating closely in our response to any hostile act against NATO Allies,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in Germany, the NATO secretary general also met with Germany’s parliamentarians from the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag. He also visited the 73 Tactical Air Wing at Laage Air Base, where he flew in a German Eurofighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I visited #Germany<\/a> & flew with @Team_Luftwaffe<\/a> in a #eurofighter<\/a> jet, witnessing firsthand how the German air force helps to protect #NATO<\/a> airspace, incl. over the Baltic Sea. We also met the Swedish #jasgripen<\/a> for air-to-air refuelling. #WeAreNATO<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6hq1wHuRzK<\/a><\/p>— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) April 26, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>