1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:04,780 --> 00:00:06,002 Well , good morning . 3 00:00:13,109 --> 00:00:15,331 It's really good to be here with all of 4 00:00:15,331 --> 00:00:17,498 you and Fred , thanks for that uh kind 5 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,760 introduction and for all that you've 6 00:00:19,770 --> 00:00:21,881 done for the Atlantic Council and for 7 00:00:21,881 --> 00:00:24,489 bringing us together on a pretty big 8 00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:27,979 week . It's a huge honor for the United 9 00:00:27,989 --> 00:00:30,870 States and President Biden to host this 10 00:00:30,879 --> 00:00:34,459 historic summit in Washington just down 11 00:00:34,470 --> 00:00:36,939 the road from the site where the 12 00:00:36,950 --> 00:00:40,599 original 12 NATO allies signed the 13 00:00:40,610 --> 00:00:44,189 North Atlantic treaty 75 years 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,919 ago . And together , we're 15 00:00:47,930 --> 00:00:49,763 marking one of the great success 16 00:00:49,763 --> 00:00:53,560 stories that the world has ever known 17 00:00:55,189 --> 00:00:58,750 on April 4th , 1949 . Those 12 18 00:00:58,759 --> 00:01:02,380 democracies came together in the wake 19 00:01:02,389 --> 00:01:06,269 of two world wars and at the dawn of a 20 00:01:06,279 --> 00:01:09,900 new Cold War , they all 21 00:01:09,910 --> 00:01:12,599 remembered as President Truman , put it 22 00:01:13,940 --> 00:01:17,750 the sickening blow of unprovoked 23 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,389 aggression . And so they vowed to 24 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,400 stand together for their collective 25 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,809 defense and to safeguard freedom and 26 00:01:26,819 --> 00:01:30,580 democracy across Europe in 27 00:01:30,589 --> 00:01:34,510 North America . They made a solemn 28 00:01:34,519 --> 00:01:38,250 commitment declaring that an armed 29 00:01:38,260 --> 00:01:41,010 attack against one ally would be 30 00:01:41,019 --> 00:01:44,519 considered an attack against them all . 31 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,527 Now , that commitment was enshrined in 32 00:01:48,527 --> 00:01:50,471 article five of the North Atlantic 33 00:01:50,471 --> 00:01:54,099 Treaty , it was the foundation 34 00:01:54,459 --> 00:01:57,800 of NATO and it still is . 35 00:02:06,389 --> 00:02:08,611 And on that bedrock , we have built the 36 00:02:08,611 --> 00:02:11,610 strongest and most successful defensive 37 00:02:11,619 --> 00:02:15,600 alliance in human history throughout 38 00:02:15,610 --> 00:02:18,440 the Cold War . NATO deterred Soviet 39 00:02:18,449 --> 00:02:20,560 aggression against Western Europe and 40 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,910 prevented a third world war . 41 00:02:24,479 --> 00:02:26,423 In the 19 nineties . NATO used air 42 00:02:26,429 --> 00:02:29,229 power to stop ethnic cleansing in 43 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,250 Bosnia and Herz Herzegovina and in 44 00:02:31,259 --> 00:02:35,220 Kosovo . And the day after September 45 00:02:35,229 --> 00:02:38,800 11th , 2001 when Al Qaeda 46 00:02:38,809 --> 00:02:41,050 terrorists attack our country 47 00:02:42,210 --> 00:02:44,210 including slamming a plane into the 48 00:02:44,210 --> 00:02:47,889 Pentagon . NATO invoked article 49 00:02:47,899 --> 00:02:51,880 five for the first and only time 50 00:02:52,649 --> 00:02:56,429 in its history . So NATO 51 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,419 has always stood by us and 52 00:03:00,429 --> 00:03:02,350 we're going to stand by NATO 53 00:03:04,789 --> 00:03:07,500 without NATO . The past 75 years would 54 00:03:07,509 --> 00:03:09,565 have been far different and far more 55 00:03:09,565 --> 00:03:12,779 dangerous . You know , I'm proud of the 56 00:03:12,789 --> 00:03:15,960 ways that NATO continues to strengthen 57 00:03:15,970 --> 00:03:17,220 our shared security . 58 00:03:19,949 --> 00:03:21,893 I'm proud of the way that NATO and 59 00:03:21,893 --> 00:03:24,529 other NATO and America's other 60 00:03:24,539 --> 00:03:26,699 alliances and partnerships have grown 61 00:03:26,710 --> 00:03:28,821 and strengthened under the leadership 62 00:03:28,821 --> 00:03:32,490 of President Biden . And I'm especially 63 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:34,699 proud of the way that our allies and 64 00:03:34,710 --> 00:03:37,850 partners including our NATO allies have 65 00:03:37,860 --> 00:03:39,582 met . The challenge of Putin's 66 00:03:39,582 --> 00:03:41,539 increasingly aggressive Russia . 67 00:03:44,399 --> 00:03:48,190 In 2014 , Putin made an illegal land 68 00:03:48,199 --> 00:03:51,149 grab against Ukraine's Crimea region in 69 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,889 eastern Ukraine . And since then , NATO 70 00:03:54,899 --> 00:03:57,309 has undertaken the largest 71 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,542 reinforcement of our collective defense 72 00:03:59,542 --> 00:04:02,720 in a generation with more forces , 73 00:04:03,490 --> 00:04:07,089 more capabilities and more investment . 74 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:11,350 Since 2014 , our fellow allies have 75 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,720 increased their defense spending by an 76 00:04:13,729 --> 00:04:17,670 average of 72% . Accounting for 77 00:04:17,679 --> 00:04:20,859 inflation in February 78 00:04:20,869 --> 00:04:24,839 2022 the world again saw what 79 00:04:24,850 --> 00:04:27,820 President Truman called the sickening 80 00:04:27,829 --> 00:04:31,260 blow of unprovoked aggression . As the 81 00:04:31,269 --> 00:04:34,940 Kremlin's forces invaded the free and 82 00:04:34,950 --> 00:04:36,690 sovereign state of Ukraine . 83 00:04:39,559 --> 00:04:41,709 As this administration has made very 84 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,980 clear , we will not be dragged into 85 00:04:43,989 --> 00:04:47,570 Putin's reckless war of choice , but we 86 00:04:47,579 --> 00:04:49,769 will stand by Ukraine as it fights for 87 00:04:49,779 --> 00:04:52,559 its sovereignty and security , we will 88 00:04:52,570 --> 00:04:55,670 defend every inch of NATO and we will 89 00:04:55,679 --> 00:04:57,350 continue to strengthen nato's 90 00:04:57,359 --> 00:05:00,179 collective defense and deterrence 91 00:05:04,230 --> 00:05:06,010 in the wake of Putin's imperial 92 00:05:06,019 --> 00:05:09,420 invasion of Ukraine . We've bolstered 93 00:05:09,429 --> 00:05:11,429 nato's forward defense posture with 94 00:05:11,429 --> 00:05:14,029 more troops at high readiness , larger 95 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,540 exercises , sharper vigilance and 96 00:05:17,549 --> 00:05:19,760 multinational battle battle groups in 97 00:05:19,769 --> 00:05:23,510 eight countries . NATO 98 00:05:23,519 --> 00:05:27,320 is now larger than ever and our new 99 00:05:27,329 --> 00:05:30,100 allies in Finland and Sweden have 100 00:05:30,109 --> 00:05:32,519 brought the alliance's membership to 32 101 00:05:35,109 --> 00:05:38,989 and make no mistake . Nato's 102 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,399 Putin's war is not the result of NATO 103 00:05:41,410 --> 00:05:44,779 enlargement . Putin's war is the 104 00:05:44,790 --> 00:05:47,480 cause of NATO enlargement 105 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,809 over the past 3.5 years . We've also 106 00:05:58,820 --> 00:06:01,100 seen an historic increase in annual 107 00:06:01,109 --> 00:06:03,730 defense spending across the alliance by 108 00:06:03,739 --> 00:06:07,679 almost $80 billion . All 109 00:06:07,690 --> 00:06:09,690 NATO allies have agreed to spend at 110 00:06:09,690 --> 00:06:12,190 least 2% of their GDP on defense . 111 00:06:14,019 --> 00:06:17,239 In 2014 , only three allies hit that 112 00:06:17,250 --> 00:06:20,869 target in 2021 113 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,119 only six allies did so . 114 00:06:25,670 --> 00:06:28,359 But this year , a record 23 NATO allies 115 00:06:28,369 --> 00:06:30,369 are meeting the 2% defense spending 116 00:06:30,369 --> 00:06:34,160 target . Now , our NATO allies 117 00:06:34,170 --> 00:06:36,392 are not just spending more on their own 118 00:06:36,392 --> 00:06:39,790 defense , they're also spending more on 119 00:06:39,799 --> 00:06:43,549 America's defense industrial base that 120 00:06:43,559 --> 00:06:46,350 means platforms and munitions built in 121 00:06:46,359 --> 00:06:48,910 America and that's helping to 122 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,087 revitalize production lines across our 123 00:06:51,087 --> 00:06:54,850 country and to create good jobs for 124 00:06:54,859 --> 00:06:58,260 American workers . No , 125 00:06:59,109 --> 00:07:01,660 all of that progress is a testament to 126 00:07:01,670 --> 00:07:04,600 us leadership and allied solidarity , 127 00:07:05,820 --> 00:07:07,653 but it's also a testament to the 128 00:07:07,653 --> 00:07:09,709 leadership of our outgoing Secretary 129 00:07:09,709 --> 00:07:11,720 General . My good friend Ian 130 00:07:11,730 --> 00:07:15,420 Stoltenberg , throughout a decade of 131 00:07:15,429 --> 00:07:17,207 challenge , Jens has guided the 132 00:07:17,207 --> 00:07:21,019 alliance with skill and steal 133 00:07:22,670 --> 00:07:25,929 and we are all deeply , deeply 134 00:07:25,940 --> 00:07:29,799 grateful . Now , 135 00:07:30,410 --> 00:07:32,410 we're going to keep building on our 136 00:07:32,410 --> 00:07:35,250 progress and we've got an ambitious , 137 00:07:35,279 --> 00:07:38,890 ambitious agenda this week . First , 138 00:07:38,899 --> 00:07:41,066 we'll continue to implement nato's new 139 00:07:41,089 --> 00:07:44,440 family of plans , the most robust 140 00:07:44,470 --> 00:07:48,269 since the Cold War and that 141 00:07:48,279 --> 00:07:50,980 will significantly improve our ability 142 00:07:51,369 --> 00:07:54,029 to deter and defend against any new 143 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,970 threat . Second , we'll work to 144 00:07:57,980 --> 00:08:00,202 endorse the pledge to expand industrial 145 00:08:00,209 --> 00:08:03,589 capacity across the alliance and this 146 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,000 will help help us scale up military 147 00:08:06,010 --> 00:08:09,329 production and send an important long 148 00:08:09,339 --> 00:08:11,589 term signal to industry . 149 00:08:13,970 --> 00:08:17,959 Third will deepen cooper operation 150 00:08:17,970 --> 00:08:20,137 in support of Ukraine's self defense . 151 00:08:21,269 --> 00:08:23,491 We will launch a new military effort to 152 00:08:23,491 --> 00:08:25,269 help coordinate some aspects of 153 00:08:25,269 --> 00:08:27,325 security assistance and training for 154 00:08:27,325 --> 00:08:30,250 Ukraine . And we are poised to agree on 155 00:08:30,260 --> 00:08:32,409 a new financial pledge to Ukraine 156 00:08:34,869 --> 00:08:37,036 as another sign of our deep commitment 157 00:08:37,036 --> 00:08:40,030 to Ukraine's self defense . A coalition 158 00:08:40,039 --> 00:08:41,706 of countries has been working 159 00:08:41,706 --> 00:08:44,070 tirelessly to provide F-16 fighter jets 160 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,809 to Ukraine . And today , President 161 00:08:46,820 --> 00:08:49,479 Biden alongside the Dutch and Danish 162 00:08:49,489 --> 00:08:51,570 Prime Ministers is proud to announce 163 00:08:52,109 --> 00:08:55,809 the transfer of F-16s is officially 164 00:08:55,820 --> 00:08:58,919 underway and Ukraine will be flying 165 00:08:58,929 --> 00:09:00,280 F-16s this summer . 166 00:09:08,169 --> 00:09:10,729 And finally , we'll continue to deepen 167 00:09:10,739 --> 00:09:12,517 ties with our global partners , 168 00:09:12,517 --> 00:09:14,989 especially in the Indo Pacific . 169 00:09:16,750 --> 00:09:19,219 I know that we're all troubled by 170 00:09:19,229 --> 00:09:21,451 China's support for Putin's war against 171 00:09:21,451 --> 00:09:24,590 Ukraine . But that just reminds us of 172 00:09:24,599 --> 00:09:27,419 the profound links between Euro 173 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,260 Atlantic security and Indo Pacific 174 00:09:30,270 --> 00:09:33,599 security . And it sends a message to 175 00:09:33,609 --> 00:09:35,609 the world that we are united in our 176 00:09:35,609 --> 00:09:39,469 values . So we 177 00:09:39,479 --> 00:09:41,469 have a lot to tackle together . 178 00:09:44,429 --> 00:09:47,299 But we're also here to mark this moment . 179 00:09:49,250 --> 00:09:51,306 We're here to strengthen an alliance 180 00:09:51,306 --> 00:09:53,417 that has kept millions of people safe 181 00:09:53,417 --> 00:09:57,210 for 75 years . And we're 182 00:09:57,219 --> 00:09:59,140 here to reaffirm the ironclad 183 00:09:59,150 --> 00:10:02,479 commitment that those 12 leaders made 184 00:10:02,489 --> 00:10:04,880 on April 4th , 1949 185 00:10:06,619 --> 00:10:10,299 an armed attack against one ally is an 186 00:10:10,309 --> 00:10:11,960 attack against us all . 187 00:10:14,750 --> 00:10:17,260 You know , as you heard , Fred say , I 188 00:10:17,270 --> 00:10:20,390 had a brief 41 year career in uniform . 189 00:10:23,609 --> 00:10:25,609 I started working with NATO back in 190 00:10:25,609 --> 00:10:28,479 1975 when I was Lieutenant Austin 191 00:10:30,789 --> 00:10:33,140 and I've never seen NATO stronger or 192 00:10:33,150 --> 00:10:36,590 more united than it is today and we are 193 00:10:36,599 --> 00:10:38,559 determined to keep it that way . 194 00:10:40,929 --> 00:10:43,096 You know , I learned a lesson early on 195 00:10:43,096 --> 00:10:46,400 in my army career . And that lesson is 196 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,409 that as a soldier , the last thing that 197 00:10:50,419 --> 00:10:52,570 you wanna do is to fight alone . 198 00:10:54,409 --> 00:10:56,950 So here's the , the blunt military 199 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,640 reality , America is 200 00:11:00,650 --> 00:11:02,450 stronger with our allies , 201 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,659 America is safer , safer with our 202 00:11:06,669 --> 00:11:09,919 allies . And America is more 203 00:11:09,929 --> 00:11:12,830 secure with our allies 204 00:11:14,570 --> 00:11:17,109 in any attempt to undermine NATO , 205 00:11:18,260 --> 00:11:21,200 only undermines American security . 206 00:11:29,739 --> 00:11:31,906 So we are here this week to strengthen 207 00:11:31,906 --> 00:11:35,099 NATO and to strengthen American and 208 00:11:35,109 --> 00:11:38,400 allied security for the next 75 years . 209 00:11:39,340 --> 00:11:41,719 As President Biden has said , our foes , 210 00:11:41,729 --> 00:11:44,200 foes and rivals have tried to shatter 211 00:11:44,210 --> 00:11:46,880 our unity , but our 212 00:11:46,890 --> 00:11:50,090 democracies have stood 213 00:11:50,099 --> 00:11:51,130 unwavering . 214 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,179 Ladies and gentlemen , that is the 215 00:11:56,190 --> 00:11:58,020 legacy that we celebrate . 216 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,590 That is the vow that we uphold 217 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,500 and that is the work that we will 218 00:12:06,510 --> 00:12:08,950 continue . Thank you very much .