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NATO Chief Thanks Germany For Its Efforts In Afghanistan

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Germany for its vital contributions to the Alliance and for its support of the alliance in Afghanistan.

Addressing a press conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday in Germany.

Stoltenberg praised Germany’s leadership of a multinational battlegroup in Lithuania and its major contributions to NATO operations from Afghanistan to Kosovo and the Aegean Sea.

“Our training mission in Afghanistan is another key contribution to the fight against international terrorism.

“And I expect that we will agree at the (July) Summit to extend funding for the Afghan forces to 2024, to support them as they create the conditions for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he said.

The two leaders discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in July, including higher readiness for NATO forces, the Alliance’s growing contribution to the fight against terrorism and fairer burden-sharing within the Alliance. 

On Russia, Stoltenberg said he and Merkel agreed that that NATO’s dual-track approach to Russia, combing strong deterrence and meaningful dialogue, was the right way forward. “Our dialogue with Russia is not easy. But the more difficult our relations are, the more we need dialogue,” he said.

Stoltenberg also welcomed that Germany has stopped cuts in defense spending and has started to increase, with a 6 percent real increase last year. Calling German leadership on defense investment “crucial”, he encouraged Germany to do more, saying: “We must do this for our own security in an unpredictable world.” 

 

NATO Chief Thanks Germany For Its Efforts In Afghanistan

Angela Merkel and Jens Stoltenberg, who was in Germany, discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in July.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Germany for its vital contributions to the Alliance and for its support of the alliance in Afghanistan.

Addressing a press conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday in Germany.

Stoltenberg praised Germany’s leadership of a multinational battlegroup in Lithuania and its major contributions to NATO operations from Afghanistan to Kosovo and the Aegean Sea.

“Our training mission in Afghanistan is another key contribution to the fight against international terrorism.

“And I expect that we will agree at the (July) Summit to extend funding for the Afghan forces to 2024, to support them as they create the conditions for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he said.

The two leaders discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in July, including higher readiness for NATO forces, the Alliance’s growing contribution to the fight against terrorism and fairer burden-sharing within the Alliance. 

On Russia, Stoltenberg said he and Merkel agreed that that NATO’s dual-track approach to Russia, combing strong deterrence and meaningful dialogue, was the right way forward. “Our dialogue with Russia is not easy. But the more difficult our relations are, the more we need dialogue,” he said.

Stoltenberg also welcomed that Germany has stopped cuts in defense spending and has started to increase, with a 6 percent real increase last year. Calling German leadership on defense investment “crucial”, he encouraged Germany to do more, saying: “We must do this for our own security in an unpredictable world.” 

 

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