Washington D.C, 4 June 2022 (TDI): The Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, visited the United States to discuss responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine with US officials.
During the visit of the NATO chief to Washington from 31st May to 3 June, he met senior officials and lawmakers.
He held a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 1st June. They discussed NATO’s Open Door policy and the decision of Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
During the meeting, they noted that all allies will be accommodated. The NATO chief announced that he would convene senior officials from Turkey, Finland, and Sweden in Brussels.
The US Secretary expressed support for his efforts to ensure the membership of the two Nordic countries.
Meetings with the President and Defense Secretary
The Secretary-General of NATO visited the White House and the Pentagon on 2nd June. He met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House.
The Secretary-General expressed gratitude to the US for its leadership in support of Ukraine and the Transatlantic Alliance.
“President Putin wanted less NATO and therefore he invaded Ukraine,” he remarked, “but he is getting more NATO, with more NATO presence in the eastern part of the Alliance and also with more members.”
The US President and the NATO Secretary-General discussed the collective response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
They further discussed strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense under an eminent Russian threat. Moreover, they addressed the preparations for the upcoming Madrid Summit of the NATO leaders.
Furthermore, he held a meeting with the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III in the Pentagon.
The Secretary commended the NATO Secretary-General for his firm and principled leadership in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
They discussed continuing the long-term support for Ukraine, along with NATO’s work to increase deterrence and defense. They also talked about the preparations for the upcoming Madrid Summit.
Both officials issued a joint statement afterward.
