NATO Deputy Secretary General: Defence and dialogue go hand in hand
NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller stressed the importance of building confidence with Russia at the Berlin Policy Forum in Germany on Tuesday (29 November 2016). Participating in a panel discussion on ‘Russia and Europe: Between Confrontation, Coexistence and Cooperation’, Ms. Gottemoeller outlined the Alliance’s dual-track approach of strong defence and dialogue with Russia.
The Deputy Secretary General highlighted that, in times of tension, dialogue with Russia is even more important to reduce risks and build confidence. Ms Gottemoeller noted that existing security agreements must be respected as they present a solid foundation for international law. Responding to questions from the audience, the Deputy Secretary General underlined that all nations are free to choose their own alliances and this is a core principle for NATO and Allies.