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00:07Good afternoon, it's great to see you, thanks to your patience.
00:10We will start with a statement from the Secretary-General and follow with your questions.
00:15Good afternoon.
00:17We have just concluded a tremendously successful NATO summit here in Ankara.
00:25There was a great sense of unity.
00:27Allies warmly welcomed President Trump's leadership that is transforming this alliance and making
00:34it stronger.
00:36The message from this summit is simple, NATO delivers.
00:42One year ago in The Hague, allies took historic decisions to strengthen our alliance.
00:49Here in Ankara, excellently hosted by President Erdogan, we have demonstrated that those commitments
00:57are now being put into practice.
01:00Across the alliance, defense investment continues to rise.
01:05New capabilities are being delivered.
01:08Industry is expanding production.
01:11And European allies and Canada are assuming greater responsibility for our shared security.
01:18Together, these are the foundations for a stronger, a fairer and a more capable NATO.
01:27Allies reviewed the significant progress already made towards investing 5% of GDP in defense by
01:35by 2035, already measuring 4% just one year into a 10-year project.
01:43So the momentum is clear.
01:47Allies continue to increase both core defense spending and broader investment that strengthen
01:54our security.
01:55They are generating the capabilities our defense plans require and stepping up their contribution
02:03to NATO's collective deterrence and defense.
02:08This is not simply about spending more.
02:11It is about ensuring that our armed forces have what they need to keep our 1 billion people
02:17safe in a more dangerous world.
02:22Our focus has now shifted decisively from setting targets to delivering results.
02:30That means accelerating production, breaking down barriers, boosting resilience, investing in
02:37innovation and working with partners to maximize cooperation.
02:43The NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum demonstrated the determination of governments and industry to
02:51work together with greater speed and ambition.
02:54And the numbers are staggering, including over $50 billion in new procurement deals in just
03:02one day.
03:03We also launched a new major initiative, NATO's drone edge, which will see $40 billion invested
03:12by allies in uncrewed systems over the next five years.
03:17And big deals with U.S. and European industry, including Tritum from Northrop Grumman and our new
03:25AVEX from Saab.
03:27These new investments and industrial commitments announced here will help strengthen our collective
03:35defense while supporting innovation, economic growth and, of course, skilled jobs across the
03:42whole of the alliance.
03:45This work must continue.
03:47And that's why I'm happy to announce that allies are taking a historic step to enhance NATO's fuel
03:54supply chain, to ensure our forces have the energy supplies they need for warfighting readiness.
04:03While allies continue to finalize the details, we know that this $27 billion investment will
04:12modernize our existing fuel storage and distribution infrastructure and support new facilities, including
04:19pipelines towards the eastern part of the alliance.
04:23We are also ensuring that we are using technology to our advantage, including through the adoption
04:30of powerful AI models and the development of an interoperable transatlantic warfighting cloud.
04:38So here again, credible deterrence and defense depends on what we deliver.
04:43And we are delivering.
04:47Allies also reaffirmed NATO's unwavering support for Ukraine.
04:52As Russia continues its war, we will continue to ensure Ukraine gets what it needs.
04:59Allies pledged to provide at least 70 billion euros in military equipment, assistance and training
05:06for Ukraine this year and again next year as we continue to press for peace.
05:14As Ukraine shifts the dynamics on the battlefield, our support must continue.
05:21This summit has shown that the alliance is stronger than ever.
05:26An alliance that is united and ready to defend every inch of our territory.
05:32Here in Ankara, allies reaffirmed their ironclad commitment to the collective defense under Article
05:405 that an attack on one is an attack on all, and we will stand together.
05:49Our unity, solidarity and collective strength remain the foundation of peace, security and prosperity.
05:59Leaders also agreed on the importance of modernizing our alliance and building for the future.
06:05That means a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.
06:09With European allies in Canada working with the United States, taking on greater responsibility
06:16for the defense of the alliance.
06:20Transformative investment in defense.
06:21Major deals for industry on both sides of the Atlantic.
06:26We are rebalancing our security for the better.
06:31That is what NATO 3.0 is all about.
06:35An alliance that continues to adapt.
06:38An alliance that continues to deliver.
06:42To keep one billion people safe.
06:47All right, we'll turn to your questions.
06:49Let's start over here in the fourth row, second seat in.
06:59Maya Raidan, TRT Arabic.
07:02I have two questions if you allow me.
07:05First, President Trump again criticized the NATO while he was standing beside you.
07:11We've heard a lot of promises and determination.
07:14That's very good.
07:15But why there isn't a credible plan B if he went through his threats to decrease his forces
07:26in the region?
07:27Is that because there isn't or the NATO cannot function without the US?
07:33This is my first question.
07:34My second question regarding Iran.
07:36The final declaration said that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
07:43If the US-Tahrani negotiations failed, what is the NATO strategy to keep this objective?
07:52Well, on your first question, I can only tell you that what I saw in the room with 32 leaders
07:58sitting together was a huge sense of unity.
08:01I have not seen this in recent history.
08:04And this is what I always believe NATO is all about, that yes, you will have your forceful
08:09debates.
08:10Sometimes people will argue at the top of their lungs, their points of view, and others will
08:14answer.
08:15And I'm never worried about that, because in the end, we are an alliance of democracies.
08:21It makes us stronger.
08:22It not only makes us stronger, in the end, we also come together to get today's evidence
08:26of that.
08:27And I always know that President Trump and the US has completely committed to NATO.
08:32But there is this big irritant, the irritant that the Europeans were not paying the same
08:37as the Americans were paying.
08:38And this is a frustration on the US part since Eisenhower.
08:42And this American president has been able to solve this, and not only get the Europeans
08:49to commit to spend the same as the US, but also to deliver on that commitment, already
08:554% on a 10-year trajectory to reach the 5%, 4% already reached.
09:00Of course, also because we have the Russian threat, the war in Ukraine, et cetera, et cetera.
09:05But this is a huge encouragement done by the American president to get us to do this.
09:10So for all those reasons, I sense this sense of unity, and that is what makes this alliance
09:17so strong.
09:18It was really very special to be in this room to sense that situation.
09:23We all felt that this alliance is more together than ever.
09:27I think particularly because we allow ourselves to sometimes disagree and then come together.
09:32On your second question, it's absolutely clear it is a NATO policy that, and a point of view
09:38of all 32 allies, that Iran should never get its hands on a nuclear capability.
09:44Obviously Iran is outside NATO territory.
09:46That doesn't mean that NATO could never get involved.
09:50But as I said before, if helpful, NATO is always willing to play a role.
09:55But first now, let's see what happens over the coming days and weeks.
10:00Okay.
10:00Let's come up here about halfway up on the right.
10:04I think I see Reuters.
10:06Ah, sorry.
10:07There you are.
10:21Yeah.
10:22Okay.
10:23Yeah.
10:24We made it.
10:24Emily Bayer from Reuters.
10:26Hi.
10:26Thank you very much for the question.
10:28Secretary-General.
10:29We've heard President Trump talk a lot about the need to boost spending on defence, and
10:37you yourself, you've emphasised that European allies in Canada are stepping up.
10:42But NATO released new data yesterday, and what it showed is that there's actually quite
10:46a big spread in terms of what allies are spending as a percentage of GDP.
10:52Some are spending a lot.
10:53But there are actually quite a few allies that are still around 2% and don't have clear
10:59plans to make it to 3.5% on core defence.
11:02So what is your message to those allies?
11:05And do you foresee those allies that are still around 2% moving up soon?
11:12Well, let's indeed, as you already implied in your question, and I agree with that, agree
11:17that $250 billion spent more in two years, Canada and Europe, is massive.
11:23And there is a max to what you can spend more in one or two years, because you still have
11:27to recruit the men and women in uniform.
11:30You have to make sure that the defence-industrial base produces the output.
11:36And of course, we are also ramping up the defence-industrial production, but also there, you need a couple
11:41of years to really get it going.
11:43Yes, there is always a certain spread between one country and the other.
11:46On the other hand, when you look at four big economies, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Canada,
11:52they were far from 2% a year ago.
11:54They all committed to 2%.
11:56And I always sense that if you have to make such a jump from 1.3%, 1.4% to
12:022%, that means,
12:04in the case of some of these countries, $5 to $10 billion extra spent in one year, that
12:10you need to give yourself a little bit of time to indeed spend the money, again, the absorption
12:14capacity, but then at the national level.
12:17But all these countries commit to move forward and to deliver under the Hague target.
12:24Thank you very much.
12:25All right.
12:26Let's come to the front row here.
12:28Can I get a mic down in the centre?
12:31If you can come down past the barrier.
12:33It's easier.
12:41Yeah, the man here.
12:42Yes.
12:43Thanks.
12:43Yes, sir.
12:44Thank you, Alison.
12:45Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General.
12:47You mentioned that commitment from NATO.
12:49I'm John Decker from Grey Television.
12:52You mentioned that commitment from NATO for Ukraine, $80 billion US this year, a follow-up
12:58of at least that amount in 2027.
13:01What will it take, in your view, beyond those resources to bring Mr. Putin to the negotiating
13:08table?
13:08That's my first question.
13:10And my second question, we're here in Turkey.
13:12What's come up during the President's time here is that S-400 missile system that Turkey
13:19possesses.
13:20Are you comfortable with that Russian missile system in the hands of a NATO ally?
13:26That's my question, sir.
13:27Well, on the second question, this is primarily a bilateral issue between Turkey and the United
13:32States.
13:33And this has been discussed, as far as I understand, also in the bilateral discussions yesterday,
13:38or at least the two countries are working on it.
13:41So, let me not comment.
13:43So, and your first question was on?
13:49On what it will take to blame Mr. Putin?
13:52Yes.
13:53So, on Putin, yes.
13:53I said this.
13:54I gave that answer on Monday.
13:55I stopped a long time ago to try to interpret what is going on in the head of Vladimir Putin.
14:02What I do know is that Putin is in difficulty.
14:06The economy is doing badly.
14:08He is losing around 30,000 of his own people a month, which is terrible news for those families
14:14and people.
14:14That means he is willing to sacrifice up to 30, sometimes even 35,000 of his own primarily
14:21men on the battlefield.
14:23We see Ukraine striking deep into Russia when it comes to the energy infrastructure, the
14:28defense infrastructure, and the frontline.
14:30He was making some gains earlier this year and it is now more or less of a stalemate.
14:35So, he is not doing well.
14:36There is this firm commitment now by the 32 to continue the support for Ukraine.
14:41I think that is absolutely relevant and very important.
14:45And I know that President Trump and his team, with help from everyone who is available, is
14:51trying to end this terrible war.
14:53He is meeting now as we speak with President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss what can be done
14:59more.
15:00And wherever we can be helpful, we will be helpful as NATO.
15:03But let me not try to predict what is going on in the mind of the Russian President.
15:11All right.
15:11Let's come up here.
15:12Financial Times, please.
15:19Secretary General, Henry Foy Financial Times.
15:22Can I hold it?
15:23You can trust me.
15:24Henry Foy Financial Times, nice to see you.
15:26Secretary General, how concerned are you that President Trump has brought back his desire
15:31to control Greenland?
15:33In January, this sparked a huge crisis inside the alliance, forced you to get involved personally
15:38and almost started a trade war with the EU.
15:41Further, you told Trump this morning that you personally will make sure that an agreement
15:45on Greenland is implemented.
15:47Is that a promise you are allowed to make?
15:49Is that not the sovereign right of the Danish and Greenlandic people?
15:52What the President and I agreed in Davos in January is, first of all, when it comes to
16:01the defense of the Arctic, he absolutely was right.
16:06Because there is a huge risk that Russia and China will gain more and more access to
16:11the Arctic.
16:11And the discussion we had, and the deal we made, is for NATO, particularly the seven
16:18countries bordering on the Arctic, including of course the U.S. through Norscom and NORAD,
16:23so that means Canada with NORAD, and then of course the five European allies, Iceland,
16:28Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, working together, backed up by all the other allies,
16:33making sure that the Arctic stays safe.
16:35This is Arctic century, launched by the Supreme Allied Commander early February.
16:41And then secondly, and here you're right, I'm not allowed to discuss or make any commitments
16:47on this second part.
16:48The second part is about trilateral talks between the U.S., Greenland and Denmark, led by the
16:55foreign ministers of the United States, Greenland and Denmark, basically to make sure that whatever
17:02investments, when it comes to the Golden Dome or deployment of troops on Greenland, will
17:07be made in the future.
17:08And that, if Greenland would change its constitutional position within the Kingdom of Denmark, that
17:14these commitments, these deals are still valid, and that's why also Greenland is involved
17:20in those talks.
17:21I'm not involved in those talks, so your question, are you allowed, et cetera.
17:24On the second part, this is up to the three parties.
17:27These talks are ongoing.
17:29When it comes to the first, of course, it is my role to work with our military leaders
17:34to make sure that we implement this Arctic century, and that's exactly what we are doing.
17:39All right.
17:39We'll stay right up there, just next to him.
17:42Bloomberg.
17:46Secretary-General Andra Palasziano from Bloomberg News.
17:49Good afternoon.
17:50Will there be, I'm here.
17:52Hi, I see you.
17:53Yeah.
17:53Will there be a summit next year in Albania?
17:57If not, when?
17:59The next summit will indeed be in Albania.
18:03That was the decision in DHEC.
18:05So the summit now in Ankara, and then the next summit in Albania.
18:09So from now on, of course, the next summit is not in Ankara, because we are in Ankara now.
18:14So the next summit is in Albania, and, of course, we still have to decide on the exact timing.
18:19Okay.
18:20And then let's come down here in the second row.
18:22Right here.
18:29Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General.
18:30Hi.
18:31Given all the challenges you laid out of defense production, increasing spending, you had kind words to say or supportive
18:36words to say about the President's strikes on Iran last night.
18:39If that conflict enlarges again, are you concerned at all that that could divert money, munitions, resources, attention from stopping
18:50the war in Ukraine?
18:51No.
18:52Because the United States is so strong and powerful, it can do both.
18:57Obviously, we still have to produce more.
18:59That's anyway a goal we have both in the U.S. and in Europe and in Canada.
19:04But when it comes to Iran, degrading the nuclear capability, degrading the inter-ballistic missile capability of Iran, crucial for
19:13the Middle East, crucial for Europe, crucial for the whole world.
19:16And then, of course, the American President deciding, and I think he was totally right last night, given the attacks
19:23on ships which happened over the last 24 hours, to do these strikes, obviously is completely the right thing to
19:33do.
19:33Because this was Iran breaking the deal.
19:38All right.
19:39And then, right here in the center.
19:41Yes.
19:46Saar Sinanajir, Hariji Media.
19:49Mr. Secretary General, President Trump was quite unhappy how the European countries had a lack of contribution to the military
19:58operations against Iran.
19:59If the ceasefire ends completely and the war is back on, do you support European countries to contribute more into
20:09this conflict?
20:10And if Donald Trump makes a statement like that to call them for aid, do you support his call?
20:16Yeah.
20:17Obviously, this is not so much NATO.
20:19This is individual European allies having bilateral agreements with the United States, which have been negotiated over the years, when
20:30it comes, for example, to the use of basis, et cetera.
20:34And I know when it comes to this that the United States is disappointed.
20:41And what I pointed out is that this is about individual cases, isolated cases.
20:50When you look at Europe as a whole, massively the Europeans have done what they bilaterally agreed with the United
20:58States when it comes to these agreements.
20:59And this led in aggregate to, as I mentioned on Monday, up to 5,000 sorties from European bases in
21:09the context of Epic Fury.
21:12And I would say Epic Fury would have been very difficult to do without Europe being a platform of power
21:20projection for the United States.
21:23Of course, this is one of the reasons why the United States is invested in its allies in Europe to
21:29keep itself safe from the nuclear submarines, from Russia, not ending up at the shores of the United States.
21:35But also, for example, for this reason, to make sure that they can make use of these bases.
21:41And massively, that has been done.
21:43All right.
21:43We're going to get challenging for the mic carriers because I've got several questions that are towards the center.
21:48So first, there's a man in the blue shirt.
21:51And we agreed on Monday that you were sitting.
21:53There's too many people.
21:55So fourth row, blue shirt here.
21:57And then after that, I think we'll go back to the eighth row about just as far in or a
22:02little further.
22:11Thanks for the opportunity.
22:14Yilmaz Akinji from Al Jazeera.
22:16My question is, President Trump was mentioning today that the peace deal is over for me with Iran.
22:25And just a couple of minutes ago, he said, we will hit them hard tonight.
22:30So what is the NATO standing in the sense, especially there are certain countries like Spain is not really collaborative
22:37with NATO ally.
22:40Will NATO really fully support this, you know, attacks or involve, especially when the topic comes straight or foremost?
22:50Well, first, political.
22:52So the political position of NATO is clear.
22:55Over the years, always been clear that Iran should not have a nuclear capability, should not have an inter-ballistic
23:01missile capability.
23:02So there's no doubt about that.
23:05That's the political side.
23:06Then the practical side.
23:07NATO itself is not involved in it.
23:09This is outside NATO territory.
23:10But as I just mentioned with your colleague, there are, of course, these bilateral agreements the United States has negotiated
23:16over the years with individual allies in Europe.
23:19And again, when you looked at the situation between the end of February and mid-April till the ceasefire started,
23:26up to 5,000 sorties from European bases.
23:30I think this is evidence that European allies have delivered.
23:35Okay.
23:36All right.
23:37Towards the center in the eighth row.
23:40Do we have a mic moving?
23:42Is she already there?
23:49Yeah, you have to look at her.
23:51She decides.
23:52Alison decides.
23:54I see a gentleman there.
23:56Making our way.
23:57And then once you're there, please stay there because we'll take a few in the neighborhood.
24:00Thank you so much.
24:01Deborah Haynes from Sky News.
24:03Good to see you.
24:05You know Donald Trump well.
24:07Can you just give a sense from your perspective?
24:09Do you think that he is more committed and more enthusiastic about NATO and NATO membership now than he was
24:18a year ago, given all the allies have done in terms of ramping up defense spending?
24:23Or are you seeing that these outbursts against the UK and others over failing to join the fight against Iran,
24:30his desire for Greenland, that actually he is as unhappy as ever before with NATO, maybe even more so?
24:37And can I just have a clarification from what you said earlier about Iran.
24:40Are you saying that that NATO actually would support the U.S. militarily in terms of its operation in Iran?
24:48What I said is that Iran is outside NATO territory.
24:52NATO has a political position.
24:54You can also see that in the summit declaration that Iran should not get a nuclear capability, that the Strait
25:00of Hormuz should open up.
25:03And NATO has always taken the position that when it comes to the inter-ballistic missile capability, Iran should not
25:09get its hands on it.
25:10But this is outside NATO territory.
25:12So this is individual allies navigating this with the United States.
25:18On your first question, I mean, I always felt that families where sometimes you have heart-to-heart and sometimes
25:24you fight each other a bit are much stronger than families where you have, oh, let's not disagree.
25:30And let's keep things nice and unity.
25:33That's a bit fake.
25:35I always felt, I love it, when sometimes between friends you can fight each other because you can, it makes
25:42you stronger.
25:42And President Trump is not a person which keeps his views to himself.
25:47So on two issues he was very clear.
25:50One is that Europe had to step up.
25:52And this had to do with NATO.
25:54He was committed to NATO.
25:55He is committed to NATO.
25:56But he said, hey, Mark, it's not a fair deal.
26:00How can it be that you have 600 million people living in Europe, the richest part of the world, big
26:08economies like Germany and the Netherlands and Italy and France and all the other nations together defending, of course, including
26:16with the US against 140 million Russians.
26:18And then you're overly dependent on the United States.
26:22That's not fair.
26:22And he's right.
26:23And that's what we settled in The Hague.
26:25I think that was his leadership, extremely important.
26:29So committed to NATO, but also expecting us all to do more.
26:32And when it comes to Iran, clearly he was disappointed.
26:38What I pointed out again is this is about isolated cases, massively.
26:42Europeans have done what you, the United States, bilaterally negotiated with the European countries.
26:49Okay.
26:49This man here.
26:50Yes, please.
26:52Yeah, thank you.
26:53Hey.
26:53Rasmus Weneborg from the Danish news agency.
26:56Yes.
26:57Danish news agency, Ritzau.
26:59Mark, you sit next to Donald Trump in moments where he talks about conquering Greenland, talks about lashing out at
27:06allies like Spain, starting trade wars.
27:08Things that it doesn't seem like the old Mark Rode would approve of.
27:13Does this have any effect on your self-respect when you sit next to him like that and say nothing?
27:18You know, what I always do is acknowledge when praise is due.
27:25And I think we should praise Donald Trump for the fact that NATO is so much stronger.
27:29Of course, it has to do with the Russian threat.
27:32It has to do with the war in Ukraine.
27:34But it very much also has to do with President Trump delivering now what since Eisenhower the United States tried
27:40to achieve equalizing spending between the US and Europe.
27:43And it makes Europe stronger.
27:45It makes Europe more relevant for the United States as a partner.
27:48So that is the transformative character of this summit, of what happened in The Hague, the implementation since The Hague,
27:55this summit as a point in time where we take stock.
27:58And I think that is extremely important.
28:00And when it comes to Greenland, I already explained.
28:03We had the meeting in Davos.
28:06And I said, I agree with you when it comes to Russia, when it comes to China, gaining access to
28:11the High North.
28:12But let's do this together.
28:14We have NATO for this.
28:15Let's work together on this.
28:16This is exactly what we are doing.
28:17Okay.
28:18We have very little time and still lots and lots of questions.
28:20So the woman who is standing here.
28:23Thank you very much.
28:25Secretary General.
28:26Yes.
28:26Hi.
28:26Amal Akan from the Epoch Times, New York-based media outlet.
28:31I have a question on Russia.
28:33Russia is facing energy crisis, fuel shortages.
28:36The entire country is facing gasoline shortages.
28:39How do you see this impacting the war in Ukraine?
28:43And do you ask or do you expect President Trump to impose more sanctions on Russia?
28:49Well, clearly, Ukraine is very successful in hitting the energy infrastructure in Russia.
28:55They, in Omsk yesterday, they claimed, and I think the Russians almost, well, I have this from you, from the
29:02media.
29:02So I didn't get this confirmed from other sources, but I guess you reported this correctly.
29:07Some of you did, at least yesterday, that they have been successful in striking deep into Russia, which was one
29:12of the biggest refinery plants in Russia.
29:16And this is part of a pattern over the last two months where the Ukrainians are more and more successful
29:22in hitting the vital energy infrastructure in Russia.
29:25This is having an impact on people driving cars, ending up at the gasoline stations.
29:30There was news yesterday that they had to put out mobile toilets because people had to wait all night for
29:36gasoline.
29:37Well, I can assure you one thing as a politician.
29:40In the 16th, 17th century, you had to make sure there was enough bread.
29:44In the 21st century, you have to make sure there is enough gasoline.
29:48Your voters don't like it if they cannot fill up their cars.
29:53And, of course, this is having an impact on the Russian economy.
29:56At the same time, you have a Russian president which is willing to sacrifice up to 35,000 of his
30:02own young men in this crazy war against Ukraine.
30:05Totally unprovoked.
30:07So, again, to any Russian young man listening, if you contemplate joining the war effort, think again.
30:13You might be one of those 30,000 to 35,000 this month, next month, the month after, because your
30:19president somehow doesn't care.
30:21He is willing to sacrifice you.
30:23So, this is what is happening.
30:25And I know that the U.S. and the European Union sanctions is not NATO, but the EU and European
30:32countries and the U.S. and the United Kingdom are constantly coordinating when it comes to sanctions and to see
30:36what can be done.
30:37Okay.
30:38I think we have two more questions.
30:40So, the man in the orange tie here in the sixth row.
30:47Hi.
30:48Johannes Petra, Austrian national television and radio ORF.
30:51I am just curious about what NATO, at the end of the day, is really about.
30:56We heard a lot about defense spending and about following interests and about hard power politics, let's say.
31:03I was wondering, also because we find ourselves in an autocracy where journalists are being arrested, what values does NATO
31:11represent, if any?
31:13And are those values shared by all 32 members?
31:18NATO is a defensive alliance defending one billion people living in NATO charities.
31:23That's the United States, that's Canada, and 30 countries in Europe.
31:29We are defensive.
31:30We will never attack another country.
31:31Never.
31:33We are defensive alliance.
31:34But we will make absolutely sure that if anyone else does not wish as well and tries to attack us,
31:40that they know that our reaction will be very forceful, that we can defend ourselves, et cetera, et cetera.
31:45And that is for a reason.
31:46First of all, because I strongly believe in the 21st century that you should not attack another country like the
31:53Russians have done with Ukraine.
31:54It's kind of crazy to do that.
31:56It's a playbook of the 19th century or the 20th century.
31:59We don't do this in grown-up democracies anymore in the 21st century.
32:03So that's one.
32:04But also because there are values at stake.
32:06Democracy.
32:07And democracy as a central Monday is not only free vote.
32:11Democracy is also you, the free media, that you can report, that you can try to find out what happened
32:17behind the scenes.
32:19Politicians not always liking what you find.
32:21But if it is fair, hey, it's your role and your job to do that.
32:25It's part of democracy.
32:26And the third pillar of democracy is that your societies have the ability to make their views known.
32:32And they do this sometimes through demonstrations.
32:35And that this always should be possible.
32:37And that means that journalists should always be able, in person, to participate in big news events.
32:43Okay, final question.
32:44That's all we have time for.
32:45We're going to go to the fifth row on the aisle here.
32:51Thank you, Secretary General.
32:52Satchio from…
32:53Yes.
32:54Hi.
32:55Hello.
32:55Sorry.
32:56Oh, we have more hands.
32:57More than one hand.
32:57Yes.
32:59Satchio from NHK, the public TV station of Japan.
33:04I'd like to ask about the IP4.
33:06Do you think it was important to have at least all representatives of all IP4 countries present in Ankara,
33:13concerning the challenges the NATO faces from China?
33:18And this is the second year not having all the leaders present at the summit.
33:21But do you already have any ideas on how to engage, again, at the leaders' level with them?
33:27Yes.
33:27Well, the president of the Republic of Korea was here, so I had the opportunity to get to know him
33:33better.
33:35He and the First Lady participated in a dinner last night.
33:38And we had very senior representatives at the level of defence ministers and or foreign ministers of New Zealand, Australia
33:46and Japan.
33:47So, I myself had my engagement with the leaders of these nations.
33:52So, it's not necessary that always all the leaders are here.
33:56I was very happy to meet the Korean president, because he is relatively new.
34:00We spoke a couple of times on the phone.
34:02This gives the opportunity to get to know each other better.
34:05And I travelled myself last year to Japan.
34:08And I might do other trips to the IP4 countries in the future, because this is an important relationship.
34:14And we said yesterday it is important because this is about the acknowledgement that the two theatres, the Indo-Pacific
34:20and the Euro-Atlantic, are more and more interconnected.
34:22You cannot separate the two.
34:24That doesn't mean that you want to extend Article 5 to the Indo-Pacific.
34:27That's not the goal.
34:28The goal is to work as much together on defence industry, on innovation, on standards, also exchanging views on defence
34:37spending, how to do that in the best way.
34:39We have now experienced in NATO, not to prescribe in detail how many tanks or how many fighter jets, but
34:45what should be the battlefield outcomes that we want to achieve by each nation's contribution to the collective defence.
34:51So, this was a very useful discussion.
34:53I think we all felt it.
34:55Alison, there is one lady over there who really tried for some time.
34:59Is it okay if we do one more?
35:00One more.
35:01It's you, and then we stop.
35:02Because I think there are other presidents and prime ministers also wanting to address you and get your questions.
35:09Thank you so much for this opportunity.
35:11Ecem Toplar Habar Global TV.
35:14Anti-Turkiye rhetoric continues to flow from Greece, which persists in its illegal militarisation activities in the Aegean.
35:25Greek Prime Minister Misotaki stated my country still faces an open trade of war from Turkey.
35:35How are these statements by Greece received between the alliance?
35:41Yes, well, I've said before when it came to other issues sometimes between allies, and it can always happen.
35:46We have an alliance of 32 nations, so there might be bilateral discussions.
35:51And then obviously, unavoidably, I will get the question, what is my view on this?
35:55But of course, I'm not a commentator.
35:57I'm there to maintain the unity, at least trying to do my best to maintain the unity of the alliance.
36:04And that means that when there are discussions or sometimes irritants between allies, that I do not comment in public.
36:12So that I can be behind the scenes, if necessary, if so wanted by any of the discussing countries, helpful.
36:22Thank you so much.
36:23It was really great to see you on Monday, to see you today, earlier today.
36:27You're amazing.
36:28See you next time.
36:29Thanks.
36:29Thanks very much.
36:41Thanks.
37:06Bye-bye.