Remarks

Good afternoon.

I just finished a great meeting with President Biden, with Vice President Harris and also with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. 

I commended the United States for their real and great leadership, both in providing support to Ukraine, but also the leadership they demonstrate every day in support to our transatlantic alliance. 

President Putin wanted less NATO and therefore he invaded Ukraine. But he is getting more NATO, with more NATO presence in the eastern part of the Alliance and also with more members. And the decision by Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership - they are historic decisions. And Finland and Sweden as NATO members will strengthen NATO and also strengthen our transatlantic bond. 

We also discussed the preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Madrid, which will be a Summit that takes place at a pivotal time for our security, where we will make sure that NATO continues to adapt to a more competitive world, with strategic competition and where we see the impact on our security from authoritarian powers like Russia and China. Also the need for NATO to work together, to stand together and to ensure that we further strengthen the bond between North America and Europe in NATO. 

So I’m looking forward to welcoming President Biden to our Summit in Madrid in a few weeks time.