NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington D.C. at press conference after meeting to discuss the implications of Russia’s war in Ukraine on June 1, 2022 (Credit: nato.int) 

By   Gary   Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC   TIMES

WASHINGTON    DC   –    NATO  Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked the United States for its “indispensable” role in Western Allies’  response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  Meeting with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Wednesday at the Department of State, the NATO chief stated that NATO and Allies’ strong support to Ukraine “helps ensure that President Putin’s aggression is not rewarded and that Ukraine prevails.”

The Secretary General also thanked the United States for increasing its military presence across Europe, stressing that strong NATO deterrence is helping to remove any room for miscalculation in Moscow about NATO’s readiness to defend and protect all Allies. He stressed that European Allies and Canada are also stepping up with more troops, higher readiness and increased defence spending.

“President Putin wanted less NATO; he is getting more NATO – more troops and more NATO members,”

-NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

The NATO chief also  noted the decisions by Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership are historic. “I am confident that we will find a united way forward.”  He added that he was in close contact with President Erdogan of Turkey, and the leaders of Finland and Sweden, and announced he would convene senior officials from all three countries in Brussels in the coming days.  

Later on Wednesday, the Secretary General will meet Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.