Stoltenberg defended after criticism of Macron, the military Alliance

Jens Stoltenberg is in a celebratory mood. Actually. The Secretary-General of Nato is mainly come to Berlin, to the 30. To celebrate the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. He does then only once, as he is holding on Thursday in Berlin, a basic speech. "When you are standing today in this vibrant city, it is difficult to imagine how different the world looked like a Generation ago", he begins his speech at the Körber Foundation. Pretty fast, but it is clear that the Norwegian has a lot on the heart – and that he intends to be clear.

On the Morning of an Interview with Emmanuel Macron was published, in which the French President, the military Alliance issued almost something of a death certificate. "What we are witnessing is the brain death of Nato," said Macron, the British weekly magazine The Economist. On the question of whether he still believe in the Alliance article of the Nato Treaty, whereby an attack on one member country as an attack on all the allies, is viewed, replied Macron: "I know."

In case of an emergency would be lost to the Europeans without American military power.

Mr Stoltenberg is responding to this challenge in his own way. The name of Macron, he mentioned not a single Time, but significant passages of his speech may be understood as a response to Macron. " Nato and the European Union are two sides of the same coin," he says. And he warns: "The European unity is not a substitute for the TRANS-Atlantic unity." Efforts of the Europeans to strengthen their military capabilities, welcome, he assured the Secretary-General. "But", he comes to the point, "the European Union cannot defend Europe."

Stoltenberg under his observation backed up with a number. After the Brexit 80 per cent of the defence expenditure of the Nato countries from Non-EU countries is applied. In the case of an emergency, the Stoltenberg says the flower would be lost on the Europeans without American military power. Really anywhere in Europe is not disputed, also in Paris. Controversial is what follows from it.

France, traditionally a skeptical Nato ally, wants to make itself independent of the USA and the whims of the US President, Donald Trump, had the Alliance before finally assuming his position as "obsolete" dismissed. The Federal government advertises for them to keep the United States through stronger European commitment in the rod. The future EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, argued so. Although you want to drive a European defence Union, but not as a competitor to Nato understood.

differences of opinion, there has always been in Nato

insurance companies are taken in Washington and at Nato headquarters in Brussels with a distrust which is likely to be the Manifestations Macrons are now reinforced. However, Stoltenberg and white, that he can't ignore the problems in the Alliance and the frustration of the Europeans. He did not know the "differences of opinion and divisions among Nato allies," he says. The show in trade issues, or issues such as climate change and Iran, "and, most recently, at the Situation in North-East Syria". With the invasion in the neighbouring country, according to the Trump befohlenenen withdrawal of US troops in Turkey had revealed to the allies outraged – but also their helplessness.

differences of opinion have existed, however, but also in the past, says Stoltenberg. "But at the end of the day, we were always able to gather us to our core task: to defend each other", he enlists. Ask him whether he was sure that Nato, in December, in London, of 70. Anniversary, also your 80. Birthday will be able to celebrate, will Stoltenberg asked at the end. "Yes," he replies quickly, he is thoughtful. A warranty, he admits, not giving it. "It is up to us."

Also Pompeo and Maas put a common commitment to Nato

US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo and his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, have confirmed 30 years after the fall of the Berlin wall, the importance of Nato for the collective security.

"The United States will remain Europe's most important ally, and Germany's most important ally outside of Europe," said Maas, at a joint press conference with US foreign Minister on Thursday in Leipzig. Pompeo called on to fight for common values. Nato, he described as one of the most important strategic partnerships in history.

The German-American relations have deteriorated since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump at the beginning of 2017. The U.S. government accused the Nato-Partner Germany on several occasions a lack of military spending, criticized the German-Russian Pipeline project, Nord Stream 2 is sharp, and the EU threatens punitive duties, which could meet especially the German car industry. At the same time Trump continued a number of times political it alone, without the coordination with the partners, which raised questions about the reliability of the United States in the Alliance.

Created: 07.11.2019, 16:43 PM