Remarks

Thank you very much, Prime Minister.

It is really a great pleasure to be back in Iceland. This was the first country I visited after I took office as NATO Secretary General. And Iceland plays a crucial role within NATO.

The transatlantic relationship is a the heart of NATO: the cooperation between North America and Europe which makes our citizens safer, and out countries stronger. And Iceland embodies that transatlantic relationship.

You contribute to NATO's operation in Afghanistan. You contribute to the reinforcements which we have deployed since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. You are helping to improve our cooperation with partners such as Finland and Sweden, by hosting the very successful Iceland Air Meet.

You are also strongly engaged in promoting the issue of women, peace and security. So I thank you for all Iceland has done for NATO.

In a few weeks, we will have an important summit in Wales, a summit where we must make NATO's collective defence, our relationship with partner countries and the ties of friendship across the Atlantic even stronger.

Russia's actions against Ukraine have been a wake-up call. They show that the rules which have governed international relations since the end of the Cold War can no longer be taken for granted.

I will look to Iceland, as to every Ally, to play a full role in our response to the challenges we face. For example, by building on the success of the Iceland Air Meet, by expanding it to cover Search and Rescue. And by exploring ways to contribute to shared NATO projects to enhance our capabilities.

In these unpredictable times, we need NATO more than ever. I count on Iceland's support as we make the Alliance even fitter, faster and more flexible.

QUESTION: What is or what should be NATO’s reaction to the situation in Ukraine?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN (NATO SECRETARY GENERAL): We are pursuing a 3-fold response.  Firstly, our core task is to provide effective defence and protection of our allies and that’s why we have enhanced our collective defence including enhanced air policing in the 3 Baltic states, deployment of naval vessels to the Baltic Sea as well as the Black Sea, more exercises in Poland and the Baltic states, for example and at the summit, we will take further steps to improve our ability to react swiftly, if needed.  So, that’s the first track to reinforce our collective defence.  Second track is to enhance our cooperation with Ukraine.  We will meet with the Ukrainian president at the summit and take decisions as to how we can step up our cooperation with Ukraine including helping Ukraine to modernize and reform their defence and security sector and make their armed forces more capable and the third track is our relationship with Russia.  We had decided already in April to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia and as long as Russia doesn’t comply with the fundamental principles of the basic documents creating the framework for NATO-Russia cooperation, as long as they don’t comply with those fundamental principles, there can’t be business as usual. We will keep the channel for diplomatic and political dialogue open through the NATO-Russia council but all practical cooperation will remain suspended. 

QUESTION:  Would you agree that Iceland’s new political importance has increased in light of the threat coming from Russia? Secondly, would you agree that longer air policy deployments which act as Iceland’s defences are feasible in that situation?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: On the latter, first of all, let me stress we don’t see any imminent threat against Iceland but we appreciate the peacetime preparedness framework that makes it possible to enhance air policing over Iceland, also at short notice if needed.  In that respect, I also think the annual air meet is important and that leads me to the first part of your question.  I think it’s safe to say that Iceland’s geo-political importance is growing, not only because of the new security environment in Europe created by Russia’s illegal military actions in Ukraine but also because of climate change and it’s impact on the Arctic region and the high north in broader terms.  The fact that climate change opens new sea routes and gives easier access to natural resources in the high north will, of course, also increase geo Iceland’s strategic importance. 

QUESTION: Can NATO play a role in the presence in Iraq, in northern Iraq especially, in stopping the advances of IS?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: I think individual NATO allies can play a role and as you know, the Iraqi government has requested assistance, military assistance from individual allies, notably the U.S. and I welcome the U.S. operations in Iraq because it is of upmost importance for regional security and also for global security to stop the advance of the so-called Islamic State which is a bunch of terrorists, terrorists that can constitute a threat not only in the region but also against Europe and North America. 

QUESTION:  As  a NATO official, would you agree that it’s kind of worrisome for our partners in NATO, strong ties that some of the Icelandic authorities have with Russia and with President Putin and would you think it would be important for Iceland to enhance its’ former strong ties with the United States, given the change in geo-political matters?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: These are national decisions and to my knowledge, Iceland has kept very strong ties with the United States and Iceland remains a strongly committed ally within NATO. So, I have no concerns whatsoever as regards Iceland’s strong commitment to the transatlantic relationship. 

MODERATOR:  I think we have time for one more question before we have to leave for the next event.

QUESTION: Are you at all concerned that Russia’s appetite for land hasn’t been satisfied and perhaps the next time they are looking for new adventures, they will look to the Baltic states?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: First of all, I think the best security guarantee that the Baltic States have got is their membership of NATO. I think the leaders in the Kremlin are very well aware that any attempt to test our determination to defend and protect our allies would provoke a very firm response from our side.  The NATO Article 5, our collective defence, is unshakable and we will take all measures necessary to provide effective defensive protection of any ally if they were to be threatened and I think Russia is aware of that so the mere existence of NATO represents a convincing deterrent that will prevent the Russians or others from even thinking about attacking a NATO ally but having said that, I am concerned that the Russian ambition, Putin’s ambition, goes beyond Ukraine.  We have the seen the illegal annexation of Crimea, we have seen a strong Russian hand in the destabilization of eastern Ukraine…