NATO Secretary-General addressed the two chambers of the Congress before the opening of the NATO Ministerial in Washington DC.
In his speech, Jens Stoltenberg talked about Russia"s aggressive policy, cyber attacks, interventions in democratic processes and pressure on NATO allies. He said that in response, the North Atlantic Alliance strengthens the collective defense system. Stoltenberg mentioned the main partners Georgia and Ukraine and also mentioned that NATO had strengthened the support to its partners.
"In 2014, Russia illegally committed annexation of Crimea. We see examples of its actions, mobilizing military forces from Arctic to the Mediterranean and from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. We have seen how neurotoxin was used in the United Kingdom, how Assad"s regime was supported , how cyber attacks against NATO allies were organized , and how it is conducting misinformation campaign and constantly trying to intervene in democracy. NATO has responded to this action by strengthening collective defense, for the first time we have deployed military units in the east of our alliance, strengthened our support for our closest partners in Ukraine and Georgia, for the two sovereign countries who have a sovereign right to choose their own path, "- Jens Stoltenberg said.
The Deputy Secretary of the North Atlantic Alliance, Rose Gottemoeller also addressed the delegation and noted that the Alliance is working intensively with Georgia and Ukraine.
"NATO has been intensively working on strengthening military capabilities with Georgia and Ukraine. Ministers will discuss and agree on a new package, which envisages more exercises. Our ships are now in the sea and are carrying out exercises. Today we have more NATO in the Black Sea and we will stay in this region to support our partners, "said Rose Gottemoeller.