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US President Donald Trump recently reiterated the claim that NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is his “biggest fan.”
This week is the NATO defense ministers meeting, and Stoltenberg tempers the supposed admiration during a press conference leading up to the meeting.
– Are you his biggest fan?
– I have a working relationship with all the leaders of the NATO countries, because it is my job as Secretary General to work with them. I have a working relationship with President Trump, as with all NATO leaders, Stoltenberg told Dagbladet.
Obama and Biden
In a few weeks, Trump could be replaced by Democrat Joe Biden in the White House.
The relationship between the United States and NATO will not change yet, Stoltenberg tells Dagbladet.
– The United States has been very concerned about a fairer distribution of burdens in NATO, and I have contributed to it. The United States appreciates that while much remains to be done and much to be done, more NATO countries are investing more in defense. This contributes to a fairer load distribution. The United States appreciates it, both Democrats and Republicans. President Obama was concerned about that, too, and no matter who wins the election, I’m sure burden-sharing will be important to Americans in the future, says Stoltenberg.
Use of money
A NATO report shows that Norway this year is finally on track to meet the goal of spending at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. The figure should be read in relation to the impact of the pandemic on the economy.
Stoltenberg is satisfied with the development, but says that the use of the money should be permanent, regardless of the economic downturn.
– At some point soon, GDP is expected to increase in many countries. NATO’s goal is not to spend money on defense to increase relatively simply because GDP is declining, he says.
“Shit Package” Shaking America
The threat from the east
Relations with Russia are always an issue when NATO summits meet, and Norway accused Russia earlier this month of being behind the cyber attack on the Storting this summer.
Jens Stoltenberg says NATO is concerned about development.
– We have seen a deterioration in relations with Russia. The trend is that Russia is modernizing its defense and is behind several cyber attacks, he says.
Stoltenberg points to the attack on the Storting as an example of Russian cyberattacks against NATO countries.
– It’s a serious attack, and it fits a pattern, says Stoltenberg the attack.
“NATO is balancing Russia by holding them accountable for their actions and imposing sanctions on them,” the NATO chief said.
At the same time, he emphasizes that NATO is now investing more in intelligence to confront the threat from the east.
Researcher from Russia: – It is surprising that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes up with such conclusions
– This will last
That Russia is trying to destabilize the NATO countries is something that Stoltenberg says will persist. Therefore, NATO’s response is essential.
– This will last. It’s something we have to deal with with determination for a long time, he says.
Nuclear weapons are also an issue in NATO. Dagbladet opponents point out that a Jens Stoltenberg nuclear ban stands in the way of putting Labor on the no-team.
– We live well with a grumpy Jens in Brussels. This must be the problem of the Labor Party. When former ministers of state and foreign affairs like Thorbjørn Jagland and Kjell Magne Bondevik support the nuclear ban, it should be obvious to everyone that it is simply not true that Norwegian security is in jeopardy, SV Stein Ørnhøi veteran tells Dagbladet.
