Leaders from the 32 NATO member states and representatives from partner nations were greeted by President Joe Biden in Washington on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Alliance.
“Here they signed the Washington Treaty and created the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the single greatest, most effective defensive alliance in the history of the world,” he said.
Today, said President Biden, NATO is more powerful and better resourced than it has ever been.
“It’s good that we’re stronger than ever, because this moment in history calls for our collective strength. Autocrats want to overturn global order, which has by and large kept for nearly 80 years and counting. Terrorist groups continue to plot evil schemes to cause mayhem and chaos and suffering,” he said.
“In Europe, Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues. And Putin wants nothing less, nothing less, than Ukraine’s total subjugation … And we know Putin won’t stop at Ukraine. But make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin – especially with our full, collective support, and they have our full support.”
President Biden noted that nearly two dozen Allied partners have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine, with more to follow. He announced the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy will provide Ukraine with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems. “And in the coming months,” he said, “the United States and our partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of additional tactical air defense systems.”
“Make no mistake, Russia is failing in this war,” said President Biden.
“More than two years into Putin’s war of choice, his losses are staggering: more than 350,000 Russian troops dead or wounded; nearly 1 million Russians, many of them young people, have left Russia because they no longer see a future in Russia ... And Kyiv ... It’s still standing two and a half years later and will continue to stand.”
“NATO remains the bulwark of global security,” said President Biden.
“Again and again, at critical moments, we chose unity over disunion, progress over retreat, freedom over tyranny, and hope over fear. Again and again, we stood behind our shared vision of a peaceful and prosperous transatlantic community.”
“Here at this summit,” President Biden declared, “we gather to proclaim NATO is ready and able to secure that vision today and well into the future.”
