NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană visits Hamburg

Noting that since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 Allies have implemented the largest reinforcement of collective defence since the Cold War, Mr. Geoană said that NATO has delivered on the new Readiness Initiative to field 30 air squadrons, 30 combat vessels, and 30 land battalions within 30 days . He said that last year NATO opened two new NATO commands, one in Ulm in Germany and another in Norfolk in the United States, in order to improve the Alliance’s ability to move forces rapidly across Europe and the Atlantic.

Highlighting that Germany leads NATO forces in Lithuania, the Deputy Secretary General said that Germany is the second largest contributor to the Alliance’s training mission in Afghanistan and that Germany supports NATO’s other missions and activities, including maritime operations.  Mr. Geoană said that all Allies have stepped up their investment in NATO’s security with more cash and with new capabilities and contributions to NATO missions and operations. He underscored that burden sharing is also about nations taking action where and when necessary. Mentioning NATO’s missions in Afghanistan, in the Western Balkans and in the east of the Alliance,  he thanked the servicemen for their professionalism and bravery.

In the evening, Deputy Secretary General Geoană was signing the Golden Book in the Hamburg City Hall and addressing the traditional Hamburg Matthiae Banquet (Matthiae Mahl) with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, the First Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher and the President of the Hamburg Parliament Carola Veit.