Opening remarks

Good morning.

And many thanks Prime Minister Johnson for hosting all of us. It’s really a good pleasure to be here.

The United Kingdom was NATO’s first home.

So it is fitting that we meet here to mark the 70^th anniversary of our Alliance.

To celebrate our success.

And to ensure our Alliance remains fit for the future.

NATO is the most successful Alliance in history.

Because we have changed as the world has changed.

And in the last few years, we have implemented the biggest increase of our collective defence in a generation.

We have stepped up in the fight against terrorism.

And we are investing more in our defence.

Since 2016, European Allies and Canada have added 130 billion dollars to their defence budgets.

This is unprecedented.

It is making NATO stronger.

NATO remains the only platform where North America and Europe discuss, decide and take actions together every day.

To protect almost one billion people.

So whatever our differences, we will continue to unite around our core task.

To defend one another.

All for one and one for all.

And now I invite our host Prime Minister Johnson to take the floor.

So Boris, please you have the floor.