Opening remarks

Dear friends, good morning. Yesterday we started.

I think we had an impressive and constructive exchange with His Majesty, the King of Jordan. And this was, of course, about the Southern Neighbourhood, but also about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In today's session, we, of course, will build on what he discussed last night during the dinner in the NATO-Ukraine Council. The foreign minister of Ukraine, Minister Andrii Sybiha was there, and also the High Representative Kaja Kallas. President Putin has expanded the conflict by getting North Korean forces to fight for him, and he uses Ukraine as a test ground for his experimental missiles. He also increasingly relies on support from China and Iran to wage his war of conquest.

So today, we will discuss the most effective way to respond to this expansion of the war and address Russia's ongoing hostile actions against NATO nations. We have to focus on the big strategic issues facing our Alliance in the years ahead, and how they are already now, but also in the future, impacting our security.

North America and Europe have always been stronger and safer together in NATO and a strong Transatlantic bond is essential, I believe – I think we all believe – in an age of global uncertainty.

Having said that, I would like to thank the media for joining us, if you will please leave the room, then we can continue in our close session. Thank you so much.