Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is in the United States this week to discuss maintaining strong support for Ukraine and preparations for NATO's 75th anniversary Summit in Washington DC.
On Monday (29 January 2024) the Secretary General met with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. In public remarks ahead of a bilateral meeting, Mr Stoltenberg underlined that Allied support is helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia's brutal aggression, and that aid to Ukraine is not charity but an investment in our own security. He therefore welcomed both Secretary Austin and President Biden's leadership in ensuring that US support continues.
Looking forward to the Washington Summit later this year, the Secretary General noted that Allies are set to take further steps to strengthen NATO, including with more defence spending, where he underlined that European Allies and Canada are stepping up and have invested 450 billion extra US dollars for defence.
While in Washington DC Mr Stoltenberg is also meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader of the House Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Leader of the Senate Mitch McConnell, as well as other Democratic and Republican Representatives and Senators. On 31 January, the Secretary General will deliver a speech at the Heritage Foundation.
As part of his visit to the US, the Secretary General will travel to Troy, Alabama to visit the Missiles and Fire Control Facility of Lockheed Martin. He will conclude his trip by visiting the headquarters of the US Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.
