''NATO: Preserving Unity Through Solidarity''

Mr. Hall,
Mr. Lockhart,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for that welcome and kind introduction. Thank you to the World Affairs Council for organizing this event. It is great to be here - in Atlanta - today.

A week ago today, President Obama informed the American people about the successful operation against Osama bin Laden.  That operation marked a significant success for the security of all 28 NATO Allies and the many nations which have joined us in our efforts to combat the scourge of global terrorism.  I congratulated President Obama and all those involved.  

Osama bin Laden stood against all the values that America and Europe have shared and upheld for many decades – freedom, tolerance and humanity.  The bond of solidarity, that connects us, helps to preserve what George Washington once called ‘the sacred fire of liberty’.

That fire burns brightly not just for our benefit, but for the inspiration of others across the world.  Over the past few months, brave people throughout the Arab world have cried out for freedom - freedom that we have enjoyed for many decades – not least thanks to NATO.

Change is taking hold in The Middle East and North Africa.  But Libya is an exception.  Colonel Qadhafi and his regime are brutally repressing their people who have expressed the desire for freedom.  

In March, NATO Allies took command of all military operations in Libya to protect civilians against Colonel Qadhafi’s relentless attacks. Acting with the authority of an historic UN Security Council Resolution.

We acted in response to a clear need, on a strong legal basis, and with solid regional support.

It was not an easy decision.  But consider this:  What if we had stood by and watched as Qhadafi’s regime killed innocent civilians in Benghazi and beyond?  What would that have said about our values?  NATO is an Alliance of democracies, and we are acting as one.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Right after I arrived here in the United States on Saturday, I paid a visit to wounded US service personnel at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.  It was a very humbling experience to be reminded of the sacrifice of these men and women who serve their country in a NATO operation.

Yesterday I had the honour to take part in a ceremony to commemorate Victory in Europe Day at the National World War Two Memorial in Washington.  And that, as well, was a very moving occasion.

This afternoon I will go to Dobbins Air Base to meet with members of the Georgia National Guard.  And when I am in Austin tomorrow, I will meet with Members of the Texas National Guard at Camp Mabry.

Over the years, your country’s military forces have done an exceptional service for freedom, peace and democracy.  That commitment continues today.  And I have come to the United States to express my own sincere appreciation, and that of all the NATO Allies.

There may be misperceptions about NATO, and let me deal with them up front.  Some believe that NATO is an unequal partnership, where the United States does all the heavy lifting and Europeans get the benefit. 

But NATO’s security guarantee applies to all the Allies.

Europe came to America’s aid within hours of the 9/11 attacks.  We invoked the collective defence clause in our founding treaty for the first time in NATO’s history.  We made clear that an attack on the United States was an attack on all Allies.

That commitment is not just words.  It is a reality every day.  In Afghanistan, for example, over 40,000 Allied and partner troops are fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with American forces.  Georgians from the US state of Georgia and Georgians from the Republic of Georgia patrol Afghan villages with French and Polish troops.

NATO is a true Alliance.  We are all in it together.  All 28 Allies make shared sacrifices for our shared values and our shared security.

When I was growing up in Denmark, we feared nuclear attack.  United in NATO, we faced down that threat, and we overcame it.

Today, many different challenges lie before us.  They are less predictable, but no less dangerous.  And we can only address them together.

The successful operation against Osama bin Laden has dealt a serious blow to violent extremism. But international terrorism still poses a direct threat to our security and to stability across the world. 

Other threats we face include missile attack, piracy and cyber attacks.  Over thirty countries now have or are developing ballistic missile capabilities.  Nuclear proliferation threatens to destabilise some of the world’s most volatile regions.

Pirates equipped with not much more than AK-47s and a fast speedboat are able to capture super tankers.  And the Pentagon alone experiences a quarter-million cyber-attacks every single hour.

Larger challenges include the security implications of climate change, water scarcity, and energy needs that increase as environmental resources decrease.

No one country can confront these threats alone.  Not even a superpower like the United States can – and we certainly can’t without the United States.

Through the strength of our transatlantic bond in NATO, we can confront these problems together.  And together we can serve as an example of freedom for others around the globe.

NATO’s primary responsibility is defending Allies against attack. But one of our core tasks also is to promote international security and to deal with crises that affect Alliance security.

Our operation in Libya is the sort of mission that NATO could be called upon to undertake more often in the future.

Such missions can be challenging. But there are times when doing nothing is not an option.

Success will depend on the broadest possible coalition of nations and organisations working together.  To achieve not only military security but also long-term political and economic stability.

We are already seeing the benefits of such a broad international approach in Afghanistan today.  Under a clear United Nations mandate, and working together with 20 partner countries, the United States and all its NATO Allies are bringing security and stability to a country that has been ravaged by over 30 years of conflict.

A secure and stable Afghanistan means a safer world for all of us.  We have the right strategy, the right resources, and the resolve to see this through.  And we will continue our missions to ensure that Afghanistan does not return to being a sanctuary for terrorists and extremists.

Over the course of the past year, we have taken the fight to the Taliban.  We are training and educating ever more Afghan soldiers and policemen.  And the Afghan Security Forces are playing an increasingly important role in combat operations and in solidifying the security gains.  The Taliban attack in Kandahar a few days ago was spectacular, but it failed.  Today all the insurgents are either captured or killed.

This is yet another exampe of the increasing ability of Afghan forces to provide security for their own country.

We have now entered a new and significant phase in our Afghanistan mission, as we gradually transition lead security responsibility to the Afghans themselves.  The transition process is on track.  Together with our Afghan partners, we aim to complete it by 2014.  But we remain committed to supporting Afghanistan well beyond, through an enduring partnership.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have come to America, and to Atlanta, to say that NATO remains a vital Alliance.  Because defending the values of freedom, democracy and humanity is vital to all of us.  These values form a bond between Europe and North America that has been the bedrock of stability in all our nations.

The challenges before our nations today are numerous and complex.  But I am convinced that, if the bond between us remains strong, we can face them together, and we can face them successfully.

As George Washington once wrote, “every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

What George Washington described was the perfect combination of freedom and security.  It is a noble vision.  We share it.  It is and will always be the vision of NATO.

Thank you.