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Update: June 08, 2021 03:41 STI

Washington [US], June 8 (ANI): NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday (local time) that NATO is not just a military alliance, but a politico-military alliance.
“NATO is not just a military alliance, but a politico-military alliance, and even when we cannot take military action, our political unity matters,” he said.
Stoltenberg met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III at the Pentagon ahead of the NATO summit to be held next week in Brussels. The head of NATO presents to the leaders of the NATO alliance 2030 – an ambitious plan to chart the way forward for the alliance over the decade.
“Basically, NATO 2030 calls for the alliance to be the unique and indispensable forum for transatlantic consultations on all issues that affect transatlantic security, including, for example, Syria, Iran or the sea from South China, ”the secretary-general said. .
The plan calls for increased funding for collective defense against all threats by land, sea, air, cyberspace or space. “The alliance is well on its way to this goal,” he said.
“We will quickly and fully implement our plans to strengthen our military posture, continuing to increase the readiness of our forces, modernize our capabilities and invest more in our collective defense,” Stoltenberg said.
“Strong armed forces are important. But strong societies are our first line of defense. We must therefore raise the level of ambition in terms of resilience,” he added.
NATO 2030 seeks to spur transatlantic innovation to maintain technological lead and fill innovation gaps among allies.

“NATO must also play a role in maintaining rules-based international order,” Stoltenberg said. This includes speaking with one voice to defend values ​​and interests and guarantee freedom of navigation.
President Joe Biden and Austin to attend North Atlantic Alliance meeting, highlighting America’s commitment to collective defense and the need to shape the most successful alliance in history for the needs of the future.
This goes to the heart of the Biden administration’s efforts to repair America’s greatest asymmetric advantage – its unprecedented network of allies and partners across the globe.
“We are going to mend our alliances and re-engage with the world, not to meet the challenges of yesterday, but those of today and tomorrow,” Biden told the State Department shortly after taking office. function in January.
“The American leadership must face this new moment of rising authoritarianism, including China’s growing ambitions to compete with the United States and Russia’s determination to damage and disrupt our democracy.”
Announcing the president’s trip to Europe, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden “will affirm the United States’ commitment to NATO, transatlantic security and collective defense. The leaders of the 30 NATO countries will discuss how to reorient the alliance and ensure an effective burden. -sharing, ”she said.
At the Pentagon meeting, Austin stressed his support for the NATO 2030 initiative and “its aim to keep the alliance militarily strong, to make it (…) stronger politically and to give it a more global vision” , did he declare.
Austin praised Stoltenberg for his efforts to ensure that the allies fairly share the burden of defense. “Because of your leadership, Secretary-General, this is the seventh consecutive year of increased defense spending,” Austin said.
“I think it’s extraordinary. And I appreciate the emphasis you put on this issue.” (ANI)