NATO and European Union Sign Joint Security Declaration Amid the Russia-Ukrainian War.
BRUSSELS - NATO and the European Union (EU) signed a declaration of joint security cooperation – the first since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year – highlighting the importance of the US-led trans-Atlantic alliance.
Speaking at a joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said they were determined to take the partnership between NATO and the EU to another level.
Stoltenberg stressed the importance of the changing security environment in Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He said the partnership between NATO and the European Union would become even more important once Finland and Sweden become full NATO member states.
"With their accession, NATO will protect 96% of the citizens of the European Union and a higher share of its territory than ever before," Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels as quoted by The Washington Times, Tuesday (10/1/2023) .
Even as some European leaders continued to call for emphasis on US military support, the joint declaration stated that NATO remains the foundation of collective defense for its allies and essential to Euro-Atlantic security.
“Our declaration makes it clear that NATO remains the foundation of our collective defense and remains critical to Euro-Atlantic security. It also recognizes the value of a more capable European defense that contributes positively to our security and is complementary and interoperable with NATO,” Stoltenberg said, agreeing that the EU's embryonic defense capabilities should complement NATO, as reported by Euronews.
This was also agreed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Russia's threats and challenges are the most direct, but they are not the only ones. We are also witnessing China increasingly trying to reshape the international order to its advantage. So we have to strengthen our own resilience. And with this new joint declaration, we are also taking our partnership to the next level," he said.
According to the declaration European countries should spend more and build stronger armies, but their efforts should complement NATO's strategy, rather than compete with it.
This is actually the third declaration that deepens security and defense cooperation in Europe. The declaration is based on similar agreements in 2016 and 2018 in the context of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.
The European Union and NATO have 21 members who share common values and play complementary and strengthening roles in supporting international peace and security.
The increased cooperation between the two organizations has given it a new impetus since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
