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Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to welcome you all most cordially to the Informal Autumn Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers.
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to Berlin in the year in which we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Germany’s membership in NATO and the 50th anniversary of the Bundeswehr.
For decades, NATO has proved its worth as an alliance of European and North American democracies and as a historically unique alliance of states for the purpose of safeguarding peace and freedom. It has rendered a vital contribution to overcoming the division of Germany and of Europe.
At present, NATO is undergoing sweeping changes. The transformation process that has been initiated is the response to the new security challenges and the expression of far-reaching security provisions:
NATO has expanded its sphere of activity in line with the international security situation. It has developed into an active instrument of political change in Europe and beyond. The admission of the new democracies from Central and Eastern Europe as members and numerous relations based on security partnership bear testimony to this.
NATO has enhanced its co-operation with other security institutions – above all the European Union. It has become an important partner for the United Nations as far as the conduct of international peace missions is concerned. The NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and in the Balkans as well as the fight against international terrorism are proof of this.
The NATO Response Force enhances the Alliance’s military capability to take action as well as its responsiveness. It is a visible expression of NATO’s strategic reorientation and serves as a catalyst of its military transformation.
During the meeting in Berlin, we will continue to pursue the course adopted. The meeting will centre on an in-depth political and strategic dialogue on the challenges to Euro-Atlantic security and the ensuing demands on the Alliance.
I am very much looking forward to being your host and wish you a pleasant stay in Berlin.
Dr. Peter Struck