Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meetings of NATO Ministers of Defence, 13 October 2022.
🗣 | NATO Secretary General:
Good afternoon.
NATO Defence Ministers have just met to address key challenges for our security.
This includes stepping up our support for Ukraine,
Strengthening our deterrence and defence, with the forces, capabilities and stockpiles we need;
And protecting critical infrastructure, with more presence, resilience and intelligence-sharing.
We addressed Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.
President Putin has responded to his failures on the battlefield with attempted annexations.
Partial mobilisation.
Reckless nuclear rhetoric.
And indiscriminate attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
Together, this represents the most serious escalation since the invasion in February.
We welcome yesterday’s vote in the United Nations General Assembly.
Condemning Russia’s attempted annexations,
And calling for the reversal of these illegal decisions.
This is a clear and strong message that Russia is isolated,
and the world stands with Ukraine,
in defence of the rules-based international order.
NATO is not party to the conflict.
But we will continue to support Ukraine, for as long as it takes.
Last night Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, joined us and gave an update on the situation on the battlefield.
Ukraine is making good progress, pushing back the invading Russian forces in the East and in the South.
NATO Allies are supplying advanced systems, including artillery, air defence, and armoured vehicles.
And I welcome today’s announcement by Spain that they will provide four HAWK launchers to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences.
This comes on top of what other Allies have delivered over the last few days.
I thank all Allies for their significant contributions and urge them to continue to step up.
We are also providing fuel, winter clothing and medical supplies as part of NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package.
Under this package, NATO will shortly deliver counter-drone equipment to Ukraine.
With hundreds of drone jammers, which can help render ineffective Russian and Iranian-made drones.
And to protect Ukrainian people and critical infrastructure.
Over the longer term, we will also help Ukraine to transition from Soviet-era to modern NATO equipment.
This morning, Allies had the regular meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group.
It is important we continue to consult and coordinate on nuclear issues.
President Putin’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible.
We take these threats seriously.
And we remain vigilant.
We will not be intimidated.
Any use of nuclear weapons would fundamentally change the nature of the conflict, and have severe consequences.
Russia knows that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.
Allies were updated on NATO’s long-planned deterrence exercise Steadfast Noon, which starts next week.
This is routine annual training, to ensure NATO’s nuclear capabilities remain safe, secure and effective.
NATO’s nuclear deterrence preserves peace, prevents coercion and deters aggression.
Ministers also reviewed our progress on strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence.
We are increasing the number of high readiness forces.
We now have more troops in the eastern part of the Alliance.
Including eight NATO battlegroups, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
Which can be scaled up quickly to brigade size.
Today, we took decisions to increase our stockpiles of munitions and equipment.
To speed up the delivery of capabilities.
And to use the NATO Defence Planning Process to provide industry with the long-term demand they need to boost production.
NATO agencies can also support Allies to facilitate procurement, and organise warehousing for equipment.
We also addressed what more we will do to protect our critical infrastructure following the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.
We have increased our vigilance in the Baltic and North Seas.
And doubled our naval presence there.
Allies are increasing security around key installations.
And we are stepping up our intelligence-sharing and surveillance across all domains.
From space, to undersea capabilities.
More: [ Ссылка ]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
SUBSCRIBE to this channel [ Ссылка ]
SUBSCRIBE to NATO News [ Ссылка ]
SUBSCRIBE to NATO History [ Ссылка ]
Connect with NATO online:
Visit the Official NATO Homepage: [ Ссылка ]
Receive NATO updates via email: [ Ссылка ]
Find NATO on FACEBOOK: [ Ссылка ]
Follow @NATO on TWITTER: [ Ссылка ]
Follow NATO on Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
Find NATO on LinkedIn: [ Ссылка ]
Find NATO on Flickr: [ Ссылка ]
#NATO #OTAN #DefMin
