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00:00If anyone thinks here, again, that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself...
00:05...without the US, keep on dreaming. You can't. We can't. We need each other.
00:10I think he is very important to NATO. He is totally committed to NATO.
00:15He had one big irritant, one big pebble in the shoe, which is there since Eisenhower, the fact that...
00:20...the Europeans were not paying up. I'm not sure I can answer them all, but I'll do my best.
00:24So...
00:25...to really delve into the questions and take them one by one...
00:30...and then also clustering them a little bit. European architecture, how to avoid...
00:35...there are political differences, was the question, how to prevent...
00:40...the community. I would say it is our strength that we have our political differences.
00:45And the fact that we have these political differences means that we are democracies with free press.
00:50...with demonstrations on the street, if necessary, with various parties from...
00:55...the European governments. And I would say it is the strength of this organisation, of NATO and also of the EU, that...
01:00...that we are based on this principle of democracy. So I would respectfully...
01:05...and I would disagree and I think it is the unity which is stronger because of our diversity.
01:10Then on Greenland. There were many questions on Greenland and basically...
01:15...what was discussed last week and of course in a run-up to the debate.
01:20Many phone calls have taken place, also from European leaders.
01:25But in the end what we agreed is, I think two work streams going forward.
01:30One work stream is for NATO collectively to take more responsibility...
01:35...for the defence of the Arctic. As you know there are seven countries in the Arctic...
01:40...there is the US through Alaska and of course Canada, Denmark because of Greenland.
01:45And then we have Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden. Yes, these are the seven countries.
01:50...bordering on the Arctic. The AIDS one is Russia, obviously not in NATO.
01:55So one work stream will be to see how best collectively we can prevent the Russians...
02:00...and the Chinese, getting more access to the Arctic region, becoming also military...
02:05...and there is more of an adversary there. How to prevent that, also from them gaining...
02:10...access to the economy here and there. And that is one work stream.
02:14NATO clearly...
02:15...being in charge here. The second work stream is that what was agreed a week before...
02:20...I met with the President on Wednesday, there was the meeting in Washington between...
02:25...the foreign ministers of Denmark and of course the foreign ministers of Greenland.
02:30...M neo- аккуret fowl women of the EU with Questionnaire said it pulled internationally...
02:32...with the Secretary of State of the US, Marco Rubio and...
02:33...the Vice President of Đâyy di Vence.
02:36Thank you very much CDU...
02:35to continue their discussions on the India's trilateral sector.
02:40And basically what they probably will focus on, but now it is up to the Danes.
02:45And the US to do that, I will not be involved in that work stream.
02:50Clearly what came out of the meeting on Wednesday is at least two issues to address.
02:55And issue one is Russia, issue second is China, how to prevent these...
03:00Two countries from gaining access in a military sense or in an economic sense to the Arctic.
03:04Of course...
03:05I have no mandate to negotiate the foreign minister of Denmark for...
03:10The previous foreign minister of Denmark asked that question.
03:12Of course, I have no mandate to...
03:15Negotiate on behalf of Denmark, so I didn't and I will not.
03:18Of course, that's up to Denmark to do.
03:20I will be very much involved as NATO Secretary General in the first work stream.
03:24How can we...
03:25How can we best as NATO collectively take the defence...
03:30of the Arctic forward and indeed there is also an issue I think when
03:35the Arctic becomes more of an issue and President Trump by the way and I will defend him now
03:40and then this afternoon just to irritate you no no because I really feel that he
03:45deserves some defense he was the one during Trump 45 who already said there is an issue
03:50with Arctic security and again he did so when he came back into office in January anything
03:55he is right there is an issue with the Arctic region there is an issue of collective security
03:58because these sea lands are
04:00opening up and because the Chinese and the Russians are more and more active China of
04:03course not boarding on the Arctic
04:05but as you know very much being involved there and to it together with
04:10the Russians so clearly we have to address that and that means
04:15that when it comes to this question of capabilities we will see in NATO how we
04:20tackle this we have a well established process of capability targeting
04:25so now we will look into within the system of the capability targets the Danes have made
04:29this point Prime Minister
04:30that and that question is
04:31it and that and that we will see there in the system
04:32that I do not do not clear in the system
04:33that we will see there in the system
04:34that I do not clear in the system
04:35how we will see that and that especially the
04:42and the Arctic are also step-by-step becoming part of the overall capability targeting process.
04:47Then on the Ukraine peace agreement, obviously the security...
04:52The security guarantees are extremely important and as you know there are three layers, one layer is the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
04:57Going forward, they will be the first line of defence, the second line of defence being...
05:02The Coalition of the Willing, they providing training...
05:07...for example also support in terms of the military build-up of the Ukraine.
05:12So this is led by the French and the Brits, as you know, and of course the US...
05:17...becoming more and more involved, as you know, since last summer and as the president...
05:22...of Ukraine said yesterday, and I think he is right, the security guarantees are close to...
05:27...being agreed upon. But then of course there is the other issue, which is the rebuilding of Ukraine.
05:32And the third issue is the very sensitive issue of territory.
05:36In the end it is...
05:37...only the Ukrainian government who can decide on territory.
05:40But for the Ukrainian government...
05:42...to get its head around what they can accept in terms of a compromise on territory...
05:47...it is crucial for them to know that going forward...
05:50...the Russians...
05:52...will not try to attack Ukraine again.
05:54Preferably, of course, they would love for Ukraine to be in NATO...
05:57...and as you know, various NATO nations are at the moment blocking that.
06:02There is this...
06:02...irreversible path into NATO that will still be there...
06:05...but at the short term it's...
06:07...politically, it's practically now not on the cards.
06:10And that means that the security...
06:12...guarantees are the more crucial to prevent the Russians from ever attacking...
06:17...again.
06:20I have...
06:21...no, there is...
06:22...there is no link between...
06:23...for the US side...
06:24...and one of you made that point...
06:26...that are...
06:27...there was rumour of a link, I understand...
06:29...I haven't heard it before...
06:30...between the Greenland discussion and the Ukraine...
06:32...these are totally separate.
06:34The Shadow Fleet rightly raised here crucial because...
06:37...it is a big source of income for the Russian Federation...
06:40...and...
06:42...I'm extremely happy with the fact that...
06:44...we pose more and more strategic dilemmas to the Russians...
06:47...in terms of Baltic century...
06:48...and we have seen what the Americans did with the Russian...
06:52...and a flagship close to Iceland...
06:53...and we have seen many other interventions...
06:55...also by the French...
06:56...close to the French...
06:57...coast...
06:58...and I think when these ships pose a threat to the environment...
07:02...when there are serious questions about...
07:04...the capability of the ship to consume...
07:07...continue sailing without cutting energy...
07:10...infrastructure...
07:11...critical energy...
07:12...and obviously...
07:13...within all the legal frameworks...
07:15...but of course all the nations are aware...
07:17...of that within the legal framework...
07:19...there are ways to intervene...
07:20...and that already is having an impact.
07:22...and that forces the Russians to more and more...
07:24...protect the Shadow Fleet...
07:25...which of course poses a...
07:27...the ship cost on them.
07:28Then when it comes to...
07:30...
07:31...
07:32...
07:33...
07:34...
07:35...
07:36...
07:37...
07:38...
07:39...
07:40...
07:41...
07:42...
07:43...
07:44...
07:45...
08:03...
08:05And I particularly mention Denmark because, relatively speaking...
08:10...they have had many casualties in...
08:15...Afghanistan, the Netherlands, but also of course bigger countries like Italy.
08:20UK, Australia and others.
08:22And I know, and of course the President already has...
08:25...made the point, I think it was yesterday, praising the United Kingdom for the...
08:30...Immense sacrifice they made in...
08:35...solder-to-solder with the Americans fighting in Afghanistan.
08:39And I know...
08:40...that America greatly appreciates all the efforts being made in Afghanistan.
08:45And acknowledges the fact that many casual...
08:50...we're there not only Americans, but also from, as I said, allies and...
08:55...NATO partners.
08:56The European pillar.
08:57This whole discussion on the European pillar.
08:59I think...
09:00Let's focus.
09:01The focus should be that we complement each other.
09:04Exactly the same.
09:05The focus we're doing at the moment.
09:06And that is NATO, as I said, standard setting, capabilities...
09:10...command and control in the EU when it comes to resilience, when it comes to the...
09:15...industrial-based, when it comes to regulation, when it comes to finding ways of...
09:20...getting the money to pay for our collective defence on top of what, of course...
09:25...the individual nations are doing.
09:26That is how we should go forward.
09:27European pillar...
09:30a bit of an empty word. I guess what you mean is a sort of next to each name.
09:35I think, but of course that's up to the Europeans.
09:40But I think there will be a lot of duplication.
09:43I wish you luck if you want.
09:45Because you have to find the men and women in uniform.
09:47It will be on top of what is happening already.
09:50It will make things more complicated.
09:52I think Putin will love it.
09:55Think again.
09:56But if the European pillar means what I just said, this division of labour, your focus
10:00is focusing on where Europe has strength and NATO focusing on where NATO has strength.
10:05That would be great.
10:06On my relationship with the President.
10:08Hey, listen.
10:09If somebody...
10:10Everybody is doing good stuff.
10:11And President Trump is doing a lot of good stuff.
10:13I believe.
10:14I know.
10:15I'm irritating a lot of you.
10:15But I think so.
10:16Because, as I said also in Davos, the 2% reach by all...
10:20NATO countries now at the end of 2025 would never...
10:25ever, ever, ever have happened without Trump.
10:27Do you really think that Spain and Italy and Belgium...
10:30and Canada would have decided to move from 1.5 to 2%?
10:35Italy spending 10 billion more now on the fence at the beginning of the year without President
10:39Trump?
10:40No way!
10:40No way!
10:41It would not have happened.
10:42And do you really think that in The Hague we would have come to the 5% commitment...
10:45without President Trump?
10:46No way!
10:47So I think he is very important to NATO.
10:50He is totally committed to NATO.
10:52He had one big irritant.
10:54One big pebble in the shoe.
10:55Which is there since Eisenhower, the fact that the Europeans were not paying up.
10:58And with the NATO...
11:00the NATO defense commitment in The Hague, the outcome of The Hague Summit...
11:04on spending...
11:05also in this year production in Ukraine, but particularly here on spending...
11:08we are now equalizing with US...
11:10so that irritant is gone...
11:11so there is a total commitment by the US to NATO in Article 5...
11:15but also in expectations that Europeans and Canadians will pay more...
11:18and we are doing so...
11:19Germany...
11:20Germany is a big example.
11:21You spend 70 billion on the defense in 2021.
11:24You will...
11:25spend 160 billion, 90 billion more in 2029.
11:29You will reach...
11:30the 3.5% core defense spending...
11:32in spite of the 5% by 2029.
11:34This is...
11:35Germany leading the way...
11:36Germany leading the way...
11:37the second biggest economy in NATO.
11:38This is crucial...
11:39and it is a...
11:40great example to others...
11:41and of course we have...
11:42a couple of countries...
11:43like Poland...
11:44and Estland...
11:45Lithuania...
11:45and Latvia already...
11:46on...
11:47on the 5%...
11:48but also Canada.
11:49Can I mention that here?
11:50Canada...
11:50Canada is back.
11:51Canada 2%...
11:52committing to the 5%...
11:53being a huge supporter...
11:55for Ukraine...
11:56also spending a lot of money...
11:57on these pearl packages...
11:58so Canada is really...
12:00political strategies...
12:01very, very much...
12:02feedback...
12:05and I think that is fantastic...
12:07Hey, but...
12:08If mmm...
12:09the sound like aomosut...
12:10How will...
12:11Seatler...
12:12good luck...
12:13I think that is fantastic.
12:14hey, but if...
12:15if...
12:18very...
12:19unhappy...
12:21I don't know...
12:22I don't know...
12:23why...
12:24Okay...
12:25needs NATO. And the U.S. is not only in NATO to prevent the mistake after.
12:30After the First World War, not to re-engage with Europe.
12:35Long arm of history reaching out to the U.S. again in the Second World War, as Churchill
12:39famously said.
12:40They are also in NATO because...
12:45For the U.S. to stay safe, and by the way, Arctic region is evidence here, they need...
12:50a secure Arctic, they need a secure Euro-Atlantic, and they also need a secure Europe.
12:54So the U.S. has...
12:55every interest in NATO, as much as Canada and the European NATO ally.
13:00But for Europe, if you really want to go out alone, and those who you are pleading for
13:04that...
13:05forget that you can never get there with 5%.
13:07It will be 10%.
13:08You have to build up your own nuclear...
13:10capability, that costs billions and billions of euros, you will lose them in that...
13:15scenario you would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
13:20So, hey, good luck.
13:23Then...
13:25I love this.
13:29The Board of Peace.
13:30On the Board of Peace, I will not comment, because when it comes to...
13:35The Board of Peace, obviously, NATO is not directly involved in the Middle East peace efforts.
13:40Of course, we welcome all the work to secure peace in Gaza, where allies are navigating...
13:45the crisis, but we are not ourselves involved in that.
13:50In a sense.
13:51Then...
13:52Bilateral alliances...
13:54Well...
13:55Bilateral cooperation is great.
13:56I am not sure about alliances, what is the difference, but I mean, within NATO...
14:00There are many, I mean, we have the Weimar format, we have the E3...
14:05we have the E5, we have the A7, that's great, the B9, so there are many...
14:10cooperation between countries within NATO, which only
14:12strengthens NATO.
14:13I'm totally in favor.
14:15Then on Iran.
14:16We are only involved in Iran when it comes to the fact
14:19that Iran and North Korea.
14:20Korea and Russia and China are working together.
14:22But again, if it comes to the situation in Iran itself,
14:24at the moment,
14:25and of course,
14:26I'm extremely worried about that.
14:27We all are.
14:28It's not for NATO to get in.
14:30Of all, because NATO has its has its, of course, is
14:34constant.
14:35We all are operating on the Euro, on the Euro-Atlantic.
14:37The Russian.
14:40I think I have mentioned already.
14:42It's there.
14:42And that's why we have to really ram.
14:45And that's why we ramp up spending.
14:46And I also mentioned already this to the new questions.
14:50that I don't believe in this European pillar,
14:52except for if it means within that division of labor.
14:55Then, when it comes to the Taurus and other systems being delayed.
15:00Yes or no to Ukraine.
15:01That's up to individual allies.
15:03I will not comment.
15:05Sorry, generally, I'm saying if you deliver your systems,
15:08please no restrictions on them.
15:10So that Ukraine can really use them.
15:12But whatever, what is delivered, of course, is not for me.
15:15If you need to comment, I can only discreetly work behind the scenes.
15:19When it comes to.
15:20To the defense strategy, which was published last Friday.
15:25I think that is a good paper.
15:26There are no surprises in it.
15:28And what we really see is.
15:30The U.S. pivoting more towards Asia, but at the same time, absolutely with Europe.
15:35Understanding that Europe will have to build up its own armed forces even further based on the...
15:40The Hague Defense Investment Pledge, and that will mean over time that...
15:45The U.S. can do more in the Pacific, but there will always be a very strong conventional...
15:50U.S. presence in Europe, and obviously the nuclear umbrella will be there.
15:55I totally comment everything being done on military mobility here.
16:00The EU plays a crucial role when it comes to deregulation, military mobility...
16:05It is vital that a bridge not only can hold my Saab car, 20 years old, but also can hold...
16:10A tank.
16:11Saab.
16:12Yes.
16:12But it's a bit off now.
16:14The EU...
16:15NATO dialogue, I think, is better than it ever was.
16:18I mean, we work extremely well together.
16:19I'm really...
16:20I'm really happy at all levels.
16:21I can only say I don't...
16:23I cannot see how that can improve.
16:25How the EU and NATO work.
16:26And we have to.
16:27So it's not just a...
16:29The Western...
16:30The Western Balkans security situation, of course, we constantly follow...
16:35As you know, we can never accept a security vacuum to emerge in Bosnia.
16:40We will be constantly working on that.
16:43I'm in close contact with the Troika press...
16:45The Eastern Balkans.
16:46And of course, when it comes to Kosovo, KFOR...
16:47The Western Balkans.
16:48We will be engaged in Kosovo, which is crucial.
16:50in Kosovo and we also make sure that we keep the dialogue going with
16:55this short question with with Serbia I have my own relationship with
17:00Alexander Futsi is the president we know each other for many years but of course we also expect him
17:05to come up with with accountability for what happened
17:10in a couple of years ago and which and and on two in two issues
17:15and both of them he promised to complete accountability
17:20then when it comes to Berlin Plus I think I should not
17:25comment on hypothetical questions but it is I think important to keep focus on
17:30reality that NATO EU corporations is is stronger than ever I really believe that
17:35at the moment and that the US role in NATO as I said remains key
17:40except for if you want to double your defense spending but even then I would not do it because history
17:45of borders together we have the same set of values we are we belong to each other
17:49and the transatlantic
17:50relationship I think is is crucial then on enlargement of course
17:55of course every country in the EU Atlantic area can apply for membership but then we have to agree
18:00with 32 and on Ukraine already mentioned the unanimity is not there at the moment
18:05but we will keep working with Ukraine to keep them as strong as possible
18:10and the irreversible path has been clearly laid out and then we have to agree with you
18:15I have all the lessons we need to capture from Ukraine I totally agree from the war by the way
18:20if Russia would attack NATO probably that war will not be an exact copy of to now the war between you
18:25Russia and Ukraine but still we have to capture all the lessons that's why we have this Ukraine
18:30NATO center now joint initiative
18:35Poland to joint analysis training education center where we capture all the lessons from the war
18:40in Ukraine also to learn from that in terms of NATO
18:45Poland so going forward and then let me see I think I've now
18:50the Azor I really have to work on that question so I will not
18:55now free will but maybe if we can get your address
19:00I can give you an answer in writing
19:03and then
19:05when it comes to Ingeborg the question on when it comes to
19:10the Ukraine and scaling up the defense industrial production in Ukraine that's really happening at the moment
19:15but there is still a big potential untapped in Ukraine
19:20about 10 to 15 billion I think it is at the moment at least these numbers are of two three months ago probably
19:25we have not changed a lot so we can still do more there this is also what the Danes and Lithuanians
19:29they have left
19:30led the way here with others and that's why I'm saying when
19:35you speak about the 90 billion the EU has now provided 60 billion military support for two years
19:40I think it is Europe one Ukraine two but then again I'm afraid that you still
19:45need to spend money also not afraid I hope you still will spend money on all
19:50supplies but particularly when it comes to the to the to the intercept
19:55and the defense of Ukraine this is my final point here and a couple of you made that point
20:00and let's say that again each night now about 15 to 20 missiles are sent
20:05into Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv and other big population centers in Ukraine
20:10and hundreds of drones the intercept rate has come down and the intercept
20:15rate has come down because some of the nascent systems now in Ukraine do not have an
20:20enough interceptors to fight back and also the patriot systems of course need constant support
20:25supply of pack missiles for them to intercept these missiles and I
20:30agree with the parliamentarian who said that you also have to
20:35dig into your own stockpiles there are two ways to do this one is these pearl packages from the US because
20:40big in that pearl system is the interceptors for nascent
20:45systems and and patriot systems but also what you have in your own national stockpiles and I'm constantly
20:50working with your leaders please help me as parliamentarians to work with your leaders you know with
20:55countries in this room and I could discreetly inform you but not in an open session
21:00that we are sitting on large piles of interceptors the supreme elite commander has said that he totally
21:05has said that that that that a lot of that stuff will now move into Ukraine because
21:10that is now clearly the priority so wherever you can help to put some pressure on your governments
21:15to do that and some governments are already doing it Norway announced it Canada announced it
21:20others have announced it others have announced it but there is still more to do because this is the difference between
21:25life and death day in day out but also how do we protect
21:30the crucial infrastructure energy infrastructure in Ukraine so please help
21:35help there I'm think I've almost answered all the questions but not
21:40totally because one or two I found too difficult but to answer a question I will come back to wing right
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