NATO Secretary General highlights partnerships during San Francisco visit

  • 09 Jul. 2014 -
  • |
  • Last updated: 09 Jul. 2014 21:20

A strong NATO with strong partnerships is “essential” to preserve an international rule-based order that promotes freedom, democracy and the rule of law, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a speech delivered at the Marines’ Memorial Association in San Francisco on Wednesday (9 July), at the end of his visit to the United States this week. The Secretary General said the international order “is under threat” due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as well as other crises such as Syria, Iraq and increased tensions in Asia. He said that current global threats require a global network to deal with them effectively.

Speech by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the Marines' Memorial Club Hotel in San Francisco

In his speech, “America, Europe and the Pacific,” the Secretary General said that this September’s NATO Summit in Wales “will ensure that NATO remains ready to defend all Allies against any threat.” He also said that Allies will look to strengthen ties built up over the years with Pacific partners like Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand which have already contributed in a number of areas, including Afghanistan and the fight against piracy.

Video