02:31Belgium: Stoltenberg warns against EU military efforts 'competing' with NATO
EU military efforts must not "compete" with but rather "compliment" those of NATO, warned Secretary General of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg, before meeting with EU defence ministers in Brussels on Tuesday.
"I welcomed EU efforts on defence many times," Stoltenberg said, but added that "EU efforts must not compete with NATO, must not duplicate NATO, because NATO remains the bedrock for European security."
According to the NATO chief, EU military initiatives "can contribute to fair burden-sharing within NATO and compliment NATO," but not overshadow it.
Stoltenberg said that he will also discuss the issue of "the new Russian missiles, which are putting the INF [Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces] Treaty in jeopardy."
US President Donald Trump has threatened to leave the treaty due to alleged Russian violations. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that such a decision, if implemented, would be responded to.
02:31EU military efforts must not "compete" with but rather "compliment" those of NATO, warned Secretary General of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg, before meeting with EU defence ministers in Brussels on Tuesday.
"I welcomed EU efforts on defence many times," Stoltenberg said, but added that "EU efforts must not compete with NATO, must not duplicate NATO, because NATO remains the bedrock for European security."
According to the NATO chief, EU military initiatives "can contribute to fair burden-sharing within NATO and compliment NATO," but not overshadow it.
Stoltenberg said that he will also discuss the issue of "the new Russian missiles, which are putting the INF [Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces] Treaty in jeopardy."
US President Donald Trump has threatened to leave the treaty due to alleged Russian violations. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that such a decision, if implemented, would be responded to.