Secretary General and Polish Foreign Minister discuss NATO deterrence and defence

  • 21 Sep. 2020 -
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  • Last updated: 25 Sep. 2020 10:18

In a face-to-face meeting at NATO Headquarters on Monday (21 September), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Polish foreign minister Zbigniew Rau for his country’s significant commitment to NATO, including by hosting the US-led multinational battlegroup, contributing to missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continuing to invest two percent of its GDP in defence. The Secretary General also welcomed the recent announcement that Poland will contribute to NATO’s tailored assurance measures for Turkey with 80 soldiers, supporting airborne warning systems and naval reconnaissance activities.

The Secretary General and the Polish Foreign Minister discussed the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, as well as the crackdown against peaceful protesters in Belarus, and stressed the importance of respecting fundamental values and international obligations.  The Secretary General stressed that the people of Belarus have the right to determine their own future. He noted that the Alliance remains vigilant, strictly defensive and ready to deter any aggression against NATO Allies. 

The Secretary General also took the opportunity to congratulate the Foreign Minister on the 40th anniversary of the Solidarity movement. The meeting took place only a week after a copy of the famous Solidarność emblem was unveiled at NATO headquarters.