Press point by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on board the US Navy Aircraft Carrier USS George H.W. Bush, 25 October 2022.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in the Adriatic Sea on Tuesday (25 October 2022). The Bush currently leads a carrier strike group under NATO command, which Mr Stoltenberg called “a demonstration of US capability and commitment to the Alliance”. He added: “this carrier sends a powerful message of Allied deterrence every day.”
🗣 | NATO Secretary General:
Good afternoon,
It is a great pleasure to be on board the USS George H.W. Bush.
Admiral Munsch,
Vice Admiral Ishee,
Rear Admiral Velez,
Captain Pollard,
It is great to see you all here and to be on this impressive aircraft carrier.
Thanks to all of you, and to the crew, for hosting us today.
This is an impressive vessel.
And it leads an impressive carrier strike group, currently under NATO command.
A demonstration of U.S. capability and commitment to the Alliance.
This carrier sends a powerful message of Allied deterrence every day.
She keeps our sea-lanes open and secure.
And contributes to NATO’s increased vigilance from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
In recent years, she has also been part of our critical fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
This carrier now leads Neptune Strike 2022.
This NATO deployment includes:
Over 80 aircraft,
14 ships,
And around 6,000 personnel.
From 24 NATO Allies and partners, including Finland and Sweden.
Neptune Strike tests our readiness to deter and defend across the Euro-Atlantic area.
Just a few days ago, US Navy F-18s flew from this carrier to Lithuania.
Working alongside our Allies France, Latvia and Hungary along the way.
And last week, your F-18s joined Canadian fighter aircraft for patrols over Romania.
Refueled in the air by a Dutch tanker aircraft.
So this exercise is a perfect example of the transatlantic bond.
Europe and North America working together in NATO.
It demonstrates our ability to rapidly reinforce our Allies.
And project power across the Alliance.
NATO is a defensive alliance.
Our deterrence prevents conflict and preserves peace.
Our strength helps to prevent any miscalculation by sending a clear message:
NATO will protect and defend every inch of Allied territory.
Turning to Ukraine, Russia’s brutal war and illegal war is at a pivotal moment.
President Putin is responding to his failures on the battlefield with more aggression.
Strikes on civilians, on civilian energy infrastructure.
And drone and missile attacks on residential areas.
Russia now falsely claims Ukraine is preparing to use a radiological “dirty bomb” on its own territory.
NATO Allies reject this transparently false allegation.
Russia often accuses others of what they intend to do themselves.
We have seen this pattern before.
From Syria to Ukraine.
Russia must not use false pretexts for further escalation.
The world is watching closely.
In recent days, we have also seen Iran provide military support to the Russian war effort.
This is unacceptable.
No country should be helping the aggressor in an illegal war.
So I welcome that Allies and the European Union are implementing strong sanctions on Tehran.
NATO is not party to the war in Ukraine.
But we will continue to support their fundamental right to self-defence.
For as long as it takes.
Let me close by thanking the remarkable women and men of the George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group.
As the motto of this ship says, you are all “freedom at work”.
Working alongside many others from across North America and Europe to keep us all safe.
Standing together in NATO, we will continue to defend our freedom and our way of life.
Against threats from any direction.
Thank you very much again.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
SUBSCRIBE to this channel [ Ссылка ]
SUBSCRIBE to NATO News [ Ссылка ]
SUBSCRIBE to NATO History [ Ссылка ]
Connect with NATO online:
Visit the Official NATO Homepage: [ Ссылка ]
Receive NATO updates via email: [ Ссылка ]
Find NATO on FACEBOOK: [ Ссылка ]
Follow @NATO on TWITTER: [ Ссылка ]
Follow NATO on Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
Find NATO on LinkedIn: [ Ссылка ]
Find NATO on Flickr: [ Ссылка ]
#NATO #OTAN #NeptuneStrike
