By Janet Ekstract – WASHINGTON D.C. – On Tuesday evening July 9, U.S. President Joe Biden presented outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg who gave the opening remarks, with America’s highest award – the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the opening of the 75th NATO Summit. Biden praised Stoltenberg, calling him the “consummate diplomat” and “a visionary statesman and defender of democracy.” In the NATO leader’s remarks on the 75th anniversary of the 2024 NATO Summit, Stoltenberg reminded everyone that those who founded NATO knew “the terrible cost of war,” calling NATO, “the most successful Alliance in history.” As NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted: “We can finally say that NATO is not only the most successful and the strongest, but the longest lasting Alliance in history.” The outgoing NATO leader emphasized: “It’s important to recognize that our transatlantic Alliance was never a given, it is and was the result of a choice and difficult decisions.” He said one of the reasons NATO became such a successful deterrent to war was the realization that “we needed to talk to our enemy.”
Stoltenberg reiterated that “The world became a safer place due to deterrence and defense but also due to disarmament and dialogue.” The NATO leader underscored how “Russia’s war against Ukraine is the biggest security crisis in generations” and how “Ukraine has shown remarkable courage.” He reminded leaders that even NATO’s support for Ukraine “comes with costs and risks” and reiterated that Russia must not win its war of aggression against Ukraine – as Stoltenberg echoed “we cannot let that happen.” Stoltenberg, former prime minister of Norway, having served as NATO secretary-general for a decade, stressed that “we are safer together” referring to the 32-nation Alliance, concluding “The question was whether we were ready to open our door,” referring to allowing other nations to join NATO. Stoltenberg continued: “It wasn’t an easy decision, in the end, we stood up for every nation to choose its own path, hardly any decision in modern history has changed Europe more profoundly.”
Meanwhile, as U.S. President Biden then addressed NATO leaders, he said that we must “Look ahead to our shared future with strength and resolve,” expressing his gratitude to Europe for what he said has been its “Breathtaking display of friendship that the American people will never, never, ever forget.” Biden pointed out that NATO proved it was able to “adapt” and that “NATO’s character is fundamentally democratic.” Referring to Russia’s war on Ukraine, Biden said: “Putin wants nothing less than Ukraine’s total subjugation and it’s democracy,” adding “And we know Putin won’t stop at Ukraine.” Biden reiterated his confidence in Ukraine, saying “Ukraine can and will stop Putin, they have our full support.” Then the U.S. president announced “a historic donation of air defense” for Ukraine, with “five additional strategic air defense systems, dozens of additional tactical air defense systems.” Biden made it clear that “Ukraine goes to the front of the line” and “will get this assistance before anyone else gets it.” He added: “Make no mistake, Russia is failing in this war, it’s losses are staggering.” Biden lauded the fact that Kiev is “still standing” and he said: “The war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country, Russia will not prevail, Ukraine will prevail.” The U.S. president concluded: “This is a pivotal moment for the transatlantic community and the world.” Biden added: “NATO is ready and able to secure that vision today and will into the future.” He further highlighted, “An overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans understand that NATO makes us all safe,” adding “The American people know that all the progress we made in the last 75 years, happened under the shield of NATO.” The U.S. president said “We understand this is a sacred obligation” then quoted Ronald Regan’s on NATO, saying “If you’re not at peace, we cannot be at peace.”
