NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg met with US President Joe Biden

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US President Joe Biden at the White House. Biden and Stoltenberg made statements to the press following their meeting in the Oval Office. President Biden stated that Europe is facing some of the most consequential moments since World War II, emphasizing the importance of unity and resilience against attacks, highlighting NATO’s role in this regard. Biden also praised Stoltenberg’s leadership in strengthening NATO as a broader and more powerful alliance, mentioning joint efforts against Russian aggression, the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in the alliance, and the reinforcement of NATO’s eastern flank. Biden announced a record number of allies meeting NATO’s defense spending commitment of dedicating at least 2% of gross domestic product to defense, stating that these figures have more than doubled since he took office. Defense spending has increased by 18%. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shared new data on defense spending by NATO allies during his statement in the Oval Office, noting an 18% increase in defense spending this year, the largest increase observed in decades. Stoltenberg emphasized that this year, 23 allies will spend 2% or more of their GDP on defense, double the number from four years ago. Stoltenberg highlighted that a significant portion of this spending occurs in the US, with the US being the country where allies procure the most military equipment, underscoring the mutual benefits for both US security and economy within NATO. Stoltenberg pointed out that European allies will increase their support to Ukraine, commending President Biden for his strong leadership on Ukraine and the bilateral security agreement signed with President Zelensky. He mentioned that European allies are enhancing their support to Ukraine, complementing the assistance provided by the US. Stoltenberg expressed hope for NATO to agree on assuming a leading role in providing security systems and training at the upcoming Washington Summit next month, as well as increasing financial and military support to Ukraine. This would alleviate the burden on the US and strengthen military support to Ukraine. Stoltenberg stated that the strong support to Ukraine will send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that time games will not work, and that the support to Ukraine is an investment in security, not charity, welcoming the strong commitment of NATO allies in supporting Ukraine.