27 Feb. 2001

New US Secretary of State visits NATO HQ On his first foreign trip as US Secretary of State, Colin Powell visited NATO's Brussels headquarters on 27 February to meet with Secretary General Lord Robertson and foreign ministers of all Alliance member states. Secretary Powell used the extraordinary foreign ministers session of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) to get to know his counterparts from other NATO countries and exchange views on a wide range of security issues. "I wish to express my commitment to NATO," Secretary Powell told reporters at a press conference following the NAC meeting. "We have worked together; worked together through problems, and we will continue to do so," he said, adding that "No other institution has done more to keep peace than NATO." Lord Robertson echoed this view. "There can be and will be, no substitute for NATO, which remains the cornerstone of European defence," he said, in response to speculation about a widening gap between the US and Europe caused by the Europe Union's plans to build its own defence and security capability. Secretary Powell shared Lord Robertson's assessment and said that: "We welcome and support ESDI [the European Security and Defence Identity]." He also reassured Allies about US plans to build a National Missile Defence, saying: "The USA is committed to closely consult on this issue with the Allies", specifying that "It is our responsibility to protect us and our Allies against existing and future threats." Additional information Extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Foreign Ministers Session - 27 February 2001 Press Conference by NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson and US Secretary of State, Colin Powell - 27 February 2001