Secretary General marks 69th anniversary of NATO, thanks Canada for its contributions
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg marked the 69th anniversary of NATO’s founding with an official visit to Ottawa on Wednesday (4 April 2018). Speaking alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mr. Stoltenberg called the Alliance “a guarantor of peace, providing security and preventing conflict.” He welcomed Canada’s role as a founding member of NATO, and that Canada continues to make essential contributions to the transatlantic bond and to international security.
The Secretary General thanked Canada for leading NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Latvia. He further thanked Canada for providing air and maritime capabilities to the Alliance; for supporting partners including Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq; and for working to keep gender issues high on NATO’s agenda. Mr. Stoltenberg also welcomed the Canadian government’s increased defence spending, and its commitment to make further increases.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Stoltenberg participated in a Town Hall event at the University of Ottawa, where he delivered remarks and engaged with students. He also met with parliamentarians and civil society representatives at an event hosted by the NATO Association of Canada and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, marking the 69th anniversary of the Alliance.
While in Ottawa, the Secretary General also met with Governor General Julie Payette; General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, and other senior officials.