Short statement

by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković

  • 11 Mar. 2021 -
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  • Last updated: 11 Mar. 2021 15:12

(As delivered)

So, Prime Minister Plenković, Andrej, welcome to NATO, it’s great to see you again, and thank you for your personal, strong commitment to our transatlantic Alliance, to NATO.

Croatia is committed and highly valued member of our Alliance. As an Ally you contribute to many different NATO missions and operations.

In Iraq helping to fight international terrorism, in Kosovo helping to stabilise that part of the Western Balkans.

You are also part of the NATO battlegroups in the Baltic region and you deploy assets to NATO’s maritime operations.

So you are an Ally which are contributing to our shared security in many different ways.

We also welcome Croatia’s strong message on NATO’s Open Door and the importance of close cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

And we also welcome the fact that you see the value of the very strong transatlantic bond, and now I think we have a unique opportunity to strengthen the transatlantic bond, a new President in the United States and the NATO 2030 project about the future of NATO and further adapt and strengthen NATO.

So there are many issues on our agenda, and I look forward to sit down with you now and discuss them and further strengthen our Alliance together, so welcome.