Transcripts For CSPAN NATO 20240705

We are funded by these companies, and morecambe including sparklight. The greatest town on earth is the place you call home. It is our home, too. Now we are facing our greatest challenge. That is why we are working to keep you connected. We i doing our part so it is easier to do yours. Announcer sparklight supports cspan, along with other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. The secretary general of nato held a News Conference ahead of the nato summit in lithuania. He answered questions about negotiations with turkey, about sweden coming into the alliance. He says he and other nato leaders are still planning for sweden to join. His remarks are about 40 minutes. Good afternoon. The secretarygeneral will preview the Vilnius Summit, then take your questions. Sick attorney general . Secretarygeneral . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg good afternoon. Nato heads of state and government will meet in vilnius next week, at a critical moment for our transatlantic security. Russias war of aggression against ukraine continues to rage on. For 500 days, moscow has brought death and destruction to the heart of europe, seeking to destroy ukraine and divide nato. Our summit will send a clear message. Nato stands united. And russias aggression will not pay. At the summit, we will make ukraine even more stronger, and set out a vision for its future. I expect allied leaders will agree a package with three elements, to bring ukraine closer to nato. First, we will agree a Multiyear Programme of assistance. To ensure full interoperability between the Ukrainian Armed forces and nato. Second, we will upgrade our political ties by establishing the natoukraine council. And third, i expect allied leaders will reaffirm that ukraine will become a member of nato. And unite on how to bring ukraine closer to its goal. Allies have already pledged 500 Million Euros for critical needs, including fuel, medical supplies, demining equipment and pontoon bridges. We will also help build ukraines security and defence sector, including with military hospitals. And we will help ukraine transition from sovietera to nato equipment and standards. President zelenskyy will join us for the inaugural meeting of the new natoukraine council. This will be a platform for crisis consultation and decisionmaking. Where we all sit as equals to address shared security concerns. At the summit, we will take further major steps to strengthen our deterrence and defense. With three new Regional Defense plans to counter the two main threats to our alliance, russia and terrorism. One plan for the north, the atlantic and european arctic. One for the center covering the , baltic region and central europe. And a southern plan for the mediterranean and black sea. To execute these plans, nato is putting 300,000 troops on higher readiness. Including substantial air and naval combat power. I expect leaders will endorse a defense production action plan to aggregate demand, boost capacity, and increase interoperability. To do all of this, we need to invest more. At the summit, allies will set a more ambitious defence defense investment pledge to invest a minimum of 2 of Gross Domestic Product annually on defense. Today, we are releasing new defense spending estimates. In 2023, there will be a real increase of 8. 3 across european allies and canada. This is the biggest increase in decades. And the ninth Consecutive Year of increases in our defence nse spending. So european allies and canada will have invested over 450 billion extra since we agreed our defense investment pledge in 2014. Then, only three allies spent 2 of gdp on defense. This year, 11 allies will reach or exceed the target. We expect this number will rise substantially next year. At the summit, we will be joined by the leaders of australia, new zealand, japan and south korea. Because our security is not regional, it is global. We are working more closely on issues such as cybersecurity, Maritime Security and new technologies. We will also welcome the European Union to vilnius. Our partnership has reached unprecedented levels, and we are committed to doing even more together. This will be finlands first summit as a nato ally. And we look forward to sweden joining as soon as possible. Yesterday, i hosted a constructive meeting of senior officials from turkey, sweden and finland. And as the next step, i will meet with president erdogan and Prime Minister kristersson in vilnius on monday afternoon. For almost 75 years, nato has been the strongest alliance in history. The decisions we will take at the Vilnius Summit will ensure we continue to protect our people and our values. With that, im ready to take your questions. We will start with lithuanian television. National radio and television, think you for the opportunity. The first question is ukraine is the 2008 bucharest declaration a mistake, how will this new declaration be different . In 2008 it was said that ukraine would become a nato member and it seems like you were going to do this in 2023, so what is the difference . And have you heard something from president zelenskyy, will he participate in the summit . Thank you. Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg there are many differences. One important difference is ukraine has come much closer to nato because nato allies have been working closely with ukraine for many years, especially since 2014. So this as an insured a much higher level of cooperation and interoperability between ukraine and nato. And, we will also i expect also the leaders, when we meet, we will agree on a package that will move ukraine even closer to nato. Partly establishing the Nato Ukraine Council, which is a political platform where we can have crisis consultation and also actually make decisions together and deepen our political cooperation. The practical support, not least of the multitier program, also has a political dimension because by agreeing to standby ukraine and help them for a longerterm, and to ensure full interoperability with nato, we are helping ukraine to come even closer to nato. And nato membership. And then finally, i am confident that we will find the united way also to address the specific issue on membership, but i will not go into the details of the exact language now because it is something that we will announce when everything is in place for the summit. I look forward to welcoming president zelenskyy at the summit. And to have him taking part in the first or inaugural meeting of the Nato Ukraine Council. Thank you. Florian from city tv. What about sending cluster munitions to ukraine, which are banned by more than 120 states. Do you think this is a good idea and does ukraine need such munitions . From a political point of view do you think it is wise to send munitions banned for good reasons . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg nato as an alliance does not have a position on the convention on class termination because a number of allies have assigned a convention, but a number of allies have not signed the convention. And its for individual allies to make decisions on the delivery of weapons and military supplies to ukraine. And so this will be for governments to decide, not for nato as an alliance. We are faced with a brutal war. And we have to remember that this brutality is also reflecting the fact that we everyday see casualties. And that cluster munitions is used by both sides, or they are used by both sides. And russia used close terminations in their brutal war of aggression to invade another country, while ukraine is using it to defend itself. The best way to end this brutal war is for president putin and russia to stop attacking another country. Thats the best way to stop although casualties, and that is the best way to stop the casualties and deaths on the battlefield that we see everyday. Secretarygeneral, ntv from turkey. At the meeting regarding sweden, what about the icebreaker between the turkeys side and it sweden, you said it was constructive. However, talking to the turkish minister of Foreign Affairs and his swedish counterpart, there are still gaps. So how are you able to bridge the gap until next monday, and what kind of pressure, because you also what kind of pressure can you put on sweden so that they somehow tried to release the concerns of turkey . Thank you very much. Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg for me, i think that it works that words like constructive and good describing icebreaker, if i had to describe the meeting. It was a constructive meeting and we made progress. And i am confident that we will continue to make progress, but there are still gaps to be bridged. That is also the reason why i have invited president erdogan and Prime Minister and the swedish Prime Minister to meet on monday. In a few days in vilnius, lithuania. And at the three of us will meet together, with our experts, and we will sit down and look at the details to create and where we see differences and adopt ways to overcome these differences when they exist, as they now do before the final ratification of swedish accession into nato. My message is that sweden has delivered. At that same time on the commitment they made in madrid in the joint memorandum. At the same time, i am also very clear that turkey has a Real Security concern. That is why we are sitting down and addressing them. Because we also know that nato allies have a serious security concern related to the fact they want sweden as a full member as soon as possible. That is the case for the baltic countries you see in advantage in have been sweden on the allies side. It will be good for sweden and it will be good for the baltic region, the Nordic Region and good for turkey to have sweden as a member as soon as possible. Thank you. Irena summer, ukrainian news agency. I have a followup question regarding the declaration. I understand you cannot comment on the language in the declaration regarding membership but can you tell us how far or how close the alliance is regarding wording the declaration with the possible membership of ukraine . And will be satisfactory for kyiv . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg we are, as always, now consulting into working on the exact language, that is the way nato makes decisions we are 31 allies. And having close contact with ukraine. But the allies are consolidating now on the exact language in the communique, and i am confident that we will find a united way forward, including on how to move ukraine forward on its goal of becoming a member of the alliance. Also, i expect, as i said, that there will be decisions on increased support, practical support, but it has a dimension when it comes to the political aspects because more interoperability, more multi air programs between nato forces in Ukrainian Forces helps ukraine move towards nato. And Stronger Political ties with the nato ukraine counsel is a way to move ukraine and nato even closer. So the language, the exact wording, will be made public when we have agreed and when the statement is endorsed by all leaders next week. But icam i expect we will have a clear message. Not only clear, but most of all we have to remember that the allies have agreed already on an important principle when it comes to ukraine into membership we agreed that the nato door is open and we agree that ukraine will become a member, which is an important message. And then we agreed that for the nato allies and for ukraine to decide when the time is right. And than the most urgent task is that we will stand by ukraine into we will provide support for ukraine for as long as it takes, because unless ukraine wins this war, there is no membership issue to be discussed at all. Thats the reason why the allies are stepping up and providing donations, military support and presented in that way. Bloomberg. Hi, natalia from bloomberg. We continue to hear from ukraine for allies to send more artillery and munitions, are you satisfied with weather allies have sent . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg nato allies are sending and have sent an unprecedented level of ammunition, different types of ammunition, and they are continuing to make announcements and new donations. All this is coordinated in a good way. And thats the reason why the ukrainians have been able to retake land to the north, east and south. Some weeks ago they were able to launch an offensive, and that is moving forward. They are able to liberate elan. And of course, there is a high rate of consumption of ammunition in the military operations going on now with thousands of shells every day. So there is enormous need to resupply. That is what the allies are doing committed they are resupplying constantly ukraine with more ammunition, spare parts, maintenance for the different artillery systems, armored vehicles, battle tanks, air defenses and so on. And that need will continue to be there, and therefore we need continued support and continued decisionmaking. For the strength in the allied countries to make further decisions on april more support. So, that is yeah. I think that was your question. Now production. On production, well, what we are seeing is that since we started to address this issue of they need to increase our Production Capacity last fall, then things have started to move. So, now more and more allies are actually signing contracts for things that can increase production. Contracts with industry. We engaged with industry at our latest defense minister meeting. And we have also worked on defense production act and plans, which i expect the allied leaders to agree on, on both how to aggregate, how to make sure that we are bringing things together, joint procurement, therefore reducing the cost to utilized in the economy of scale. We have done joint procurement for years. And we have an agency which is not actually facilitating several big projects, also for a battle decisive ammunition. We have increased the guidelines for how much a battle size ammunition, including for instance the 155 ammunition, which is the most commonly used in the world. In ukraine and in the world. We are increasing the guidelines for how much of this type of ammunition allies should have. And we are also strengthening our work to standardize and to ensure that this full interchangeability. Nato is addressing issues, ramping up production in many ways by using tools, setting standards and guidelines. And the allies are now implementing a followup on production. That is what is going on. Greek tv. The lady there. Thank you. Secretarygeneral, you have mentioned that the 2 on defense spending is the floor, not the ceiling. Are the allies closer to reaching a more concrete agreement, a more concrete obligatory agreement on the 2 , on this target . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg the answer is yes, we have made Good Progress on agreeing on the investment pledge where we regard to percent of gdp for defense, not as a ceiling but as the minimum floor. But as important as that, we are making progress and close to having all the details in place for a new investment pledge. The allies have stepped up to this commitment and it is not only demonstrate it in words, but deeds. The new figures we reached today for the defense investments of 2023 are encouraging, they are positive. And their biggest increase in decades, 8. 3 increase in defense spending for europe and canada. That is adjusted for inflation and a something we have not seen across nato for decades. And it reflects that nato allies are taking this extremely seriously, because to provide support to ukraine, to sign longterm contracts with defense production, with the defense industry, to replenish our stock, to invest in more height and capabilities, there is a need for more money. Now that extra money is coming in. With total of 450 billion since the defense investment pledge and only this year that a. 3 increase. So, that reflects that this is something which is taken extremely seriously by the allies. So of course we still have some way to go. I expect a further increase next year. And we expected this year 11 allies to meet the 2 guideline, which is significantly more than in 2014. At that was a decade pledge. That will run out more end in 2024. Next year, we expect a significantly substantially more allies to meet the 2 target. And move on from there with a new pledge at the summit. Getting back to support to ukraine, two questions. At the first one on the comprehensive action plan. You said allies have pledged 500 Million Euros, is that for one year . And are the allies ready to commit to 500 million on a multiyear basis . The second question on bringing ukraine closer to nato, what would it mean in practical terms if the requirement was dropped map requirement was dropped . Thank you. Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg we are now finalizing the text and the decisions on both of these issues, therefore i am a little bit careful to go into the details. You will see all of the details on both questions you asked within a few days. And, i think that i will only make my task of leading the process and ensure that we end on a strong and united position on these issues more difficult to find now, at this press conference, went into the exact details of the wording and language on the different alternatives which are now being addressed. But i can say that i am confident that when we finalize these consultations and we have the decisions at the summit, we will see a strong commitment from nato allies to provide substantial financial sustained economic support to ukraine, both as nato through the comprehensive assistance package for the different specific purposes like fuel and different types of equipment. But also for the multitier program to ensure that ukraine transitions from soviet era to nato standards. And doctrines with full interoperability. And on the membership action plan, i will not go into the details about the reality is met with all the different programs we have, with the Nato Ukraine Council, and with a Multiyear Program for interoperability, we will move ukraine closer to nato. And therefore help them move on the issue of sending a message on the membership question. Thank you for the opportunity. Secretary general, we have been hearing warring signals from russia and ukraine on the publication of a nuclear plant. With the radioactive cloud affecting nato countries, it could be a trigger for article five has that message been sent to moscow . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg i think that first of all it is important to understand that wars are by nature dangerous. And also unpredictable. And of course we are monitoring and following closely the situation around that parisian and the Nuclear Power plant there. We welcome the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency is monitoring closely. They have experts following the situation. And this is important because the power plant is europes largest Nuclear Power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency has a responsibility. They have a mandate, we support that. When it comes to ensuring that regulations and Safety Standards are fully upheld. That is of course a big challenge in a war zone, therefore russia has a particular responsibility. The best message from nato and from the iaea is that russia should not launch any attacks from the power plant. They should not attack the power plant. And they should withdraw their forces. That would enable of the experts to do their work in a better way. They have had access and have made soem judgments some judgments and assessments. They have said that they have seen no visible indication of mines or explosives at this stage, but i also asked they they also asked for additional access to the plant. So we continue to call on russia to withdraw from the facility. And ensure the ukrainians and International Experts have full access. We continue to monitor the the agency continues to monitor and we are calling a russia to withdraw its forces. The ukrainian news agency. Thank you for the floor. Will security guarantees for a future agenda at the summit if i may about the future membership, both ukraine and nato members agreed the issue of membership should be considered after the war is over. Wouldnt it be an incentive to russia to continue the war endlessly then . Dont you think is the best security guarantee for ukraine is to ensure the nato membership . Thank you. Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg the most important thing now is to ensure that ukraine prevails. And that president putin and russia do not win the war. And therefore the most urgent task is the military support to ukraine. But also knowing that the more land ukraine is able to liberate, the stronger their hand will eventually be at the nato table with in order to find a peaceful, enduring end to the war. When the war ends, it is important that we have the frameworks in place to ensure that russias president not only rests its forces, reallocate them, and reattack at a later stage. That would be a lasting and enduring peace. We need frameworks in place to provide ukraine with what they need to ensure that russia is not going to attack again. And that is exactly what allies are discussing as part of the discussion on the membership issue with the nato. Within nato. I am concerned im confident that we will find a united way forward as nato allies on ukraines request for membership. We will also expect i expect we will make some concrete decisions on the interoperability and all the things that will help ukraine move closer to nato. Then it is also publicly known, and it has been announced, i said bilateral and multilateral consultations with ukraine on different kinds of security arrangements. And i welcome those efforts. We have been briefed about them. And it will adjust, complement and underpin the efforts of nato as an alliance. The message is that we take our decisions of independent nations together with ukraine, so it is not for russia to make any decisions, to have any veto. We are helping ukraine to win this war by providing military support and we will continue to do that. Ok. Reuters. Secretarygeneral, could you tell us more about the Nato Ukraine Council and put it in concrete terms for an ordinary citizen who does not follow this stuff super closely . What kind of powers might have . Could ukraine convene a meeting if it wants . Could it be a forum for sharing intelligence, for example . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg the coun cil will be a council which is formed by the 31 nato allies, hopefully soon to be 32 allies with sweden, but now 31. And ukraine. And we will be to gather in the council as equals. And it will we will agree on modalities on how and how often the council will meet. But i expect that we will agree modalities, and we will also ensure individual members of the council, and that includes of course ukraine, can call a meeting to have what you would call crisis consultations. That is if they felt threatened in any way or they see a need for urgent consultations. They can invoke this crisis consultation mechanism between the nato allies and ukraine as members of the council. Then the council can make decisions and it will be up to the council to decide what kind of decisions and they can make. But this opens at upper joint activities, establishing subcommittees to address certain issues, costs, interoperability thats up to the council to decide. For instance, in work program so the whole for instance, a work program. So the whole idea is to do things together, decide to, consult together on issues that matter to our security. And that brings again ukraine to nato, again. And it provides all of us with tools we can use to do more together and strengthen our cooperation and of the ties between ukraine and all of the nato allies. So this will bring ukraine closer to nato. It will be good for ukraine and good for nato. And the inaugural meeting will be next week in vilnius, lithuania. A followup question on the cluster bombs. Germany has already said they are opposing the cluster bombs being sent to ukraine. We understand that could help ukraine advance with their offensive, but if the u. S. Does decide to send them is there not a risk we could see cracks in natos unity with regard to the topic . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg it is for individual allies to make decisions on what kind of weapons. All agree we should deliver weapons and ammunition to ukraine. And they are delivering it at unprecedented levels. As. Germany, there are many other allies who are delivering different types of ammunition and weapons to ukraine. But when it comes to the cluster munitions, there is a difference between the allies because some of us have signed the convention on cluster munitions and they do not have them. So they will not provide them to ukraine. All of our allies have not signed the convention. And many of them or some of them have cluster munitions. So, for these individual allies to make their own decisions, the Nato Alliance does not have a position on the convention, simply because theres different views among the allies. And also the any possession of cluster munitions. Um, cluster munitions are overused are already used in the war in ukraine, by both sides. The difference is russia is using cluster munitions to attack or invade ukraine. Ukraine is using the cluster munitions to protect itself against an aggressor. And, all of the allies, regardless of whether they have signed the convention on cluster munitions, agree that we should provide military support to ukraine, as we do. This is also germany. Exactly what type of weapons, what type of ammunition varies between the allies and it will continue to do so. I think we have one last question from georgian tv. Over there. Just above you. Georgian tv. Can we expect some kind of messages regarding other countries like georgia . Thank you. Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg our message has been for a long time, it was reiterated at the previous summit, that we need to strengthen our partnership with partners that are vulnerable to russia. Or in russian interference and pressure. And at the summit, allies will reiterate our support to the integrity and sovereignty of georgia with its internationally recognized borders. Allies will also, i expect, reaffirm jordans right to decide its own future and Foreign Policy free from outside intervention. Therefore, we call on russia to withdraw its forces it has in georgia without any consent from georgia. And to end its in the south. And i think we need to recognize, once again, the importance of that georgia plays in strengthening the partnership between nato and georgia. And the commitment to euro atlantic security. So, we are or we will address the other partners. Of course, ukraine will be at the top of the agenda because it is a fullfledged war taking place in ukraine. But we will also address the importance of strengthening our other partnerships with countries like georgia. Thank you very much. [indiscernible] one last followup. Thank you. Thank you so much. In follow up on the council. In the past, hungarians were looking at joining. Do you think allies will have a right to block such a meeting . Do you think it is fair for the ukrainians to have a council while the Nato Russia Council still exists . Sec. Gen. Stoltenberg the fact we have established that Nato Ukraine Council demonstrates to allies, ukraine and hungary is in favor of that, because that is the way we make decisions. Second, the modalities will ensure that we can convene the meeting. And we will continue to when we start to have meetings of the council, we will continue to have other meetings in the future. Thank you. This concludes the press conference. Announcer here is a look at live coverage today. At 11 30 a. M. , a discussion about International Data privacy with steve lang. It is being hosted by the atlantic council. At 2 00 p. M. , National Security advisor Jacob Sullivan briefs white house reporters on the president s Upcoming European trip, which includes stops in the u. K. And finland. At 3 30 p. M. , the president is expected to announce new initiatives to reduce Health Care Costs for americans. You can watch these events live on cspan or watch on cspan now, the free mobile video app, or online at cspan. Org. Announcer Congress Returns next week for legislative business and votes following the fourth of july holiday. The senate will gobble back in on monday and lawmakers are expected to continue working on president bidens executive and judicial nominations. Torres a small will serve as deputy agriculture secretary, the number two leadership post at the usda. And also Rosemarie Odowd go to the director of the justice departments violence against womens office. At the house will be back in session on tuesday. Members are expected to debate the annual defense programs and policies bill. Watch live coverage of the house on cspan. You can see the senate on cspan2. You can watch all of our congressional coverage with their free video app, cspan now. Or online at cspan. Org. If you ever miss any of our coverage, you can find it anytime online at cspan. Org. Videos of events future markers that guide you to newsworthy highlights. These points of interest markers appear on the righthand side of the screen when you hit play. The timeline makes it easy to get an idea of what was debated and decided in washington. Scroll through and spend a few minutes on the points of interest. Announcer now a look at the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, hosted by the center for the national interest. It is about 35 minutes. I wanted to kick off the discussion today with a broad