NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, following the signing in Brussels of a declaration on cooperation with the EU, said that the document confirms the fundamental role of the alliance in transatlantic security, and also recognizes the importance of strengthening European defense as its complement.
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Stoltenberg, as well as the heads of the European Council Charles Michel and the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen signed the third joint declaration on cooperation on Tuesday in Brussels. The document was supposed to be signed back in 2021, but the conclusion was postponed for unknown reasons.
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“The Declaration will strengthen the strategic engagement between NATO and the EU… We must strengthen our collective security, as well as continue to support Ukraine… The document makes it clear that NATO will remain the foundation of collective defense and transatlantic security. We also recognize the importance of a stronger and more developed European defense, which makes a positive contribution to global and transatlantic security, which complements NATO and is compatible with the alliance,” the organization’s Secretary General said.