The NATO secretary-general’s visit to Portugal is part of the round Stoltenberg is conducting before the organization’s summit. In the meeting it was discussed the support to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with António Costa, this Thursday, as part of the round the leader is conducting before the organization’s summit in July, which is focused on support for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has called for a quick accession of Ukraine to NATO and the matter will be discussed at the organization’s next summit scheduled for July. Until then, the Secretary General is visiting member states to ask for support and show unity.
“Some heads of state said that NATO was dead, but the truth is that Putin’s first major defeat was the revitalization of NATO and the strengthening of the transatlantic alliance,” said António Costa.
Several member states want to see the alliance grow with Ukraine’s membership in NATO, but the organization’s secretary general advocates a multi-year plan for Ukraine’s membership and calls for more investment in the meantime.
“Ensuring our security in a dangerous world means we must invest even more in our defense and deterrence. In Vilnius, I hope that the allies will agree to a new defense investment commitment that allocates at least 2 percent of GDP to defense,” said Jens Stoltenberg.
Portugal is one of the member states that devoted the least percentage of its GDP to defense last year. This year, spending is expected to increase to 1.66% of GDP and to reach 2% by the end of the decade.
