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That’s why, on our 75th anniversary, we reiterate NATO’s founding principle: An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. One for all, and all for one. Together, we will defend every inch of NATO territory and stand united against future Russian aggression.
For years, President Putin has spread lies and false stories to justify his wars. One of these narratives is that NATO is a threat to Russia. However, the opposite is true. Today, countries are rejoining NATO because they feel threatened by Russia. Finland and Sweden have long had a proud tradition of neutrality. But after Putin invaded our peaceful neighbors, they exercised their sovereign right to freely choose their alliances and have now strengthened our ranks.
For Europe to be at peace, Russian imperialism must be stopped. President Putin does not tolerate any “gray zones,” as he sees them as undermining territorial integrity and sovereignty, drawing imaginary lines on maps, and ultimately inviting the use of military force. I can’t. His full-scale invasion of Ukraine also demonstrated the naivety of his policy of making concessions to Russia in hopes of restoring peace and stability to the continent.
European allies therefore need to demonstrate their readiness to bear their fair share of NATO’s shared burdens and take greater responsibility for the defense of Europe. Our enduring transatlantic ties remain the cornerstone of our national security, and we Europeans must address some of the most pressing shortcomings that have become painfully clear over the past months and years. Must: Capability gaps, readiness of our military, production capacity, logistics, standardization, and interoperability.
The United States has long assumed more of the burden than the rest of its allies. But collective defense is our collective effort. In this regard, we reaffirm the importance of a stronger and more capable European defense. It contributes positively to global and transatlantic security, and is complementary and interoperable with NATO.
To shoulder this great responsibility for our collective security, our European allies should take the following steps:
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