NATO Chief Visits Washington, Pledges To Boost In Alliance Defense Spending
Washington D.C./14.06.23/Turan: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday met with President Biden in the Oval Office to discuss the war in Ukraine and the upcoming summit in Lithuania, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
"The leaders discussed the implications of Russia’s war on Ukraine for transatlantic security and the importance of continuing to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense," the White House said in a readout of the meeting. "They also discussed the need for Allies to build on the 2014 Wales Summit defense investment pledge."
Biden touted the strength of the NATO alliance in the wake of Putin's war and said members were working toward increased spending goals. Stoltenberg said he expected alliance members to meet a target goal of spending at least 2 percent of GDP, or the economic output of a nation, on defense.
Biden also conveyed that he is looking forward to hosting NATO Allies in Washington, D.C. July 9-11, 2024 for NATO’s 75th anniversary summit, according to the White House.
In addition, the leaders underscored their shared desire to welcome Sweden to the Alliance "as soon as possible." Stoltenberg also met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday and discussed efforts to include Sweden in the NATO alliance as Turkey holds up ratification over concerns about Swedish ties to extremist groups.
Alex Raufoglu
In World
-
Pyongyang went loud and proud on Monday about its plans for nuclear weapons as the United Nations grilled its representative over a recent missile launch.
-
Russia on Tuesday denounced Moldova's weekend election as unfair and said it did not see the winner, Maia Sandu, as the legitimate president of the country.
-
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday he had discussed with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock the "need for decisive action" in response to North Korean involvement in the war with Russia.
-
South Korea and the European Union on Monday jointly condemned North Korea's supply of weaponry to Moscow and demanded that it withdraw troops it has sent as Russia wages war against Ukraine.
Leave a review