03:37North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered 'bad news' during his farewell speech in Brussels on Thursday, stating that allies' 2 percent GDP spending on defence was 'no longer enough'.
"The good news is that we have delivered on the pledge we made 10 years ago. But the bad news is that this is no longer enough," he said. "That is why NATO allies have agreed to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defence. And, that is why we have agreed [on] robust defence plans."
Stoltenberg reiterated that the 'quickest way' to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was to 'lose it', however noting that it 'will not bring peace, it will bring Russian occupation.'
"Ukraine has a sovereign, democratic right to persist as a sovereign democratic nation. The paradox is that the more weapons for Ukraine we are able to deliver, the more likely it is that we can reach a peace and end the war," he added.
He also stated that the lesson learned from the US-Afghanistan encounter was that "the purpose of any future military operation outside NATO territory must be clearly defined and must be honest about what we can and what we cannot achieve."
The United States withdrew its forces from Afghanistan on August 14, 2021, leaving security to the US-trained Afghan national forces, which the Taliban quickly overthrew. Chaos ensued at Kabul airport as tens of thousands of Afghans attempted to flee the country, fearing reprisals from the militant group for assisting the West.
The chaotic Western evacuation marked the end of a 20-year campaign launched by then-president George W Bush following the 9/11 attacks. The offensive killed approximately 176,000 people in Afghanistan, including 46,000 civilians, as well as over 3,500 soldiers from the US, UK and other allies.
Stoltenberg will step down from his position on October 1 after serving 10 years as NATO’s Secretary General. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was appointed earlier this year to replace him.
'Bad news!' - NATO's Stoltenberg says allies' 2% defence spending 'no longer enough' during farewell speech
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered 'bad news' during his farewell speech in Brussels on Thursday, stating that allies' 2 percent GDP spending on defence was 'no longer enough'.
"The good news is that we have delivered on the pledge we made 10 years ago. But the bad news is that this is no longer enough," he said. "That is why NATO allies have agreed to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defence. And, that is why we have agreed [on] robust defence plans."
Stoltenberg reiterated that the 'quickest way' to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was to 'lose it', however noting that it 'will not bring peace, it will bring Russian occupation.'
"Ukraine has a sovereign, democratic right to persist as a sovereign democratic nation. The paradox is that the more weapons for Ukraine we are able to deliver, the more likely it is that we can reach a peace and end the war," he added.
He also stated that the lesson learned from the US-Afghanistan encounter was that "the purpose of any future military operation outside NATO territory must be clearly defined and must be honest about what we can and what we cannot achieve."
The United States withdrew its forces from Afghanistan on August 14, 2021, leaving security to the US-trained Afghan national forces, which the Taliban quickly overthrew. Chaos ensued at Kabul airport as tens of thousands of Afghans attempted to flee the country, fearing reprisals from the militant group for assisting the West.
The chaotic Western evacuation marked the end of a 20-year campaign launched by then-president George W Bush following the 9/11 attacks. The offensive killed approximately 176,000 people in Afghanistan, including 46,000 civilians, as well as over 3,500 soldiers from the US, UK and other allies.
Stoltenberg will step down from his position on October 1 after serving 10 years as NATO’s Secretary General. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was appointed earlier this year to replace him.
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered 'bad news' during his farewell speech in Brussels on Thursday, stating that allies' 2 percent GDP spending on defence was 'no longer enough'.
"The good news is that we have delivered on the pledge we made 10 years ago. But the bad news is that this is no longer enough," he said. "That is why NATO allies have agreed to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defence. And, that is why we have agreed [on] robust defence plans."
Stoltenberg reiterated that the 'quickest way' to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was to 'lose it', however noting that it 'will not bring peace, it will bring Russian occupation.'
"Ukraine has a sovereign, democratic right to persist as a sovereign democratic nation. The paradox is that the more weapons for Ukraine we are able to deliver, the more likely it is that we can reach a peace and end the war," he added.
He also stated that the lesson learned from the US-Afghanistan encounter was that "the purpose of any future military operation outside NATO territory must be clearly defined and must be honest about what we can and what we cannot achieve."
The United States withdrew its forces from Afghanistan on August 14, 2021, leaving security to the US-trained Afghan national forces, which the Taliban quickly overthrew. Chaos ensued at Kabul airport as tens of thousands of Afghans attempted to flee the country, fearing reprisals from the militant group for assisting the West.
The chaotic Western evacuation marked the end of a 20-year campaign launched by then-president George W Bush following the 9/11 attacks. The offensive killed approximately 176,000 people in Afghanistan, including 46,000 civilians, as well as over 3,500 soldiers from the US, UK and other allies.
Stoltenberg will step down from his position on October 1 after serving 10 years as NATO’s Secretary General. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was appointed earlier this year to replace him.