Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden Meets with Jens Stoltenberg of NATO at The White House - June 7, 2021 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:29 ()

I meant what I said when I spoke to you that we consider Article 5 a sacred commitment. I mean, literally a sacred commitment. And so, I think the -- the value and the extent of the overwhelming mutual need for NATO is -- is as much as it's ever been. You know, I can't think of a time where there's a greater need to unify and tighten the unity in Europe than there is today.

Joe Biden

00:00:29 - 00:00:50 ()

I really mean it. There's a lot we have to do, I think, and this administration had from the time I got elected to the United States Senate as a 29-year-old kid, I got here when I was 30. I have been deeply involved with and incredibly supportive of NATO, and strength of NATO.

Jens Stoltenberg

00:00:50 - 00:01:12 ()

Thank you so much, Mr. President. It's really great to see you again. Great to be back in the White House and thank you for your strong, powerful commitment to NATO and for -- for your leadership. And -- and your very strong message on the need to strengthen alliances and strengthen NATO is something I really welcome.

Jens Stoltenberg

00:01:12 - 00:01:25 ()

We've -- we've faced a wide range of different security challenges and no ally can face them alone, including Russia, China, terrorism. We got this --

Joe Biden

00:01:25 - 00:01:26 ()

Jens Stoltenberg

00:01:26 - 00:01:49 ()

Cyber and security concerns of -- of -- of climate change as we've discussed at -- at the Climate Meeting. Cyber, of course, we have seen that recently also in the United States. So in an age of global competition, we need to strengthen NATO. And that's exactly what we're going to do at the upcoming summit in Brussels.

Jens Stoltenberg

00:01:49 - 00:02:26 ()

This is about reinforcing our collective defense, it's about strengthening our resilience, it's about sharpening the technological -- technological edge of our alliance, and it's about working more closely with our partners. To do all that, we need to invest more. And uh the good news is that Allies are investing more, European allies and Canada added U.S. $260 billion to the defense budgets in total since 2014 when they made [Inaudible] at the NATO Summit in Wales, about seven consecutive years of increase.

Jens Stoltenberg

00:02:26 - 00:02:48 ()

I think this demonstrates that North America and Europe, we stand together in NATO and sends a clear message of resolve and unity. And I think also it is the best -- best way to demonstrate that we are actually now investing more in our collective defense, our shared security. A strong NATO is good for Europe, but it's also good for the United States.

Jens Stoltenberg

00:02:48 - 00:02:49 ()

Joe Biden

00:02:49 - 00:02:50 ()

Jens Stoltenberg

00:02:50 - 00:02:58 ()

Great advantage to have 29 friends and allies and I look forward to -- to addressing all the challenges together when the leaders meet.

Joe Biden

00:02:58 - 00:03:03 ()

I will make it clear. I think that NATO is important to our security than we are to NATO.

Jens Stoltenberg

00:03:03 - 00:03:04 ()

Joe Biden

00:03:04 - 00:03:11 ()

It is critical, critical, essential to American security, stability short term, and long term, I think.