NATO Deputy Secretary General: resilience requires close cooperation with partners like Ireland

  • 06 Mar. 2023 -
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  • Last updated: 07 Mar. 2023 09:34

Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană underlined the importance of NATO’s partnership with Ireland in remarks delivered online to the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) on Monday (6 March 2023). He underlined the importance of ensuring resilient societies, saying: “as an advanced, knowledge based economy, with thriving technology, pharmaceutical, and financial sectors, ensuring Ireland’s resilience will be critical in the years ahead.”

Speech by NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană followed by questions and answers at an event organized by The Institute of International and European Affairs

Mr. Geoană welcomed that Ireland and NATO have worked together in many ways over the years, including in NATO's missions and operations in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. He also underlined that "we work together to advance the women, peace and security agenda... to increase your capacity to participate in UN and EU missions, and... to enhance our interoperability with other forces."

On the Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Deputy Secretary General emphasised that “by invading Ukraine, a sovereign and independent nation, President Putin has… declared war on the rules-based global order as we know it and as we cherish it.” Mr. Geoană added that “we must support Ukraine for as long as it takes and with whatever they need to win”, while at the same time Allies “must continue to strengthen our deterrence and defence”. 

The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin is Ireland’s leading public policy and international affairs think tank. The title of event was “The Security of Europe after Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine”.