NATO is facing unprecedented challenges

The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization warned the US Congress yesterday about the threat posed by an "increasingly assertive Russia" to the Alliance, including a massive military build-up, threats to sovereign states, the use of nerve agents and cyber attacks.

"Now we have to overcome our mutual differences because we will need our alliance even more in the future. We are faced with unprecedented challenges - challenges that no country can face alone," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, as reported by Reuters.

Warning that "time is running out", he also called on Russia to return to compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, from which President Donald Trump plans to withdraw the US in the summer.

"NATO has no intention of deploying land-based nuclear missiles in Europe," Stoltenberg said. "But NATO will always take the necessary steps to provide a credible and effective deterrent."

Stoltenberg also used the speech to strongly defend the "most successful alliance in history", which Trump often mocks.

Members of Congress, who often greeted Stoltenberg with a standing ovation, said they saw his address to a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate as a chance to reaffirm America's commitment to NATO.

Stoltenberg is the first leader of an international organization and the first Norwegian to be given the rare honor of being addressed in this way.

"NATO is good for Europe, but it is also good for the United States," Stoltenberg said. The invitation to Stoltenberg to speak as the alliance celebrates its 70th anniversary is widely seen as a way to send a message to Trump of strong bipartisan support for NATO, according to Reuters.

"The strength of a country is not measured only by the size of its economy or the number of soldiers, but also by the number of its allies," added Stoltenberg. "And through NATO, the US has more friends and allies than any other power." It has made America stronger and safer.”

Earlier this year, before summoning Stoltenberg to Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a delegation of her Democrats to Brussels, where they tried to convince European allies that differences over Trump's policies were just "family feuds" and that transatlantic ties still going strong.

During the meeting between Stoltenberg and Trump on Tuesday, the US president said that NATO provides protection from Russia, but that he believes that relations with Moscow will be good. As always, Trump avoided criticizing Russia.

"I hope we have a good relationship with Russia," he said. "But I think we will get along with Russia."

Russia is causing a rift in the Alliance by selling air defense systems to NATO member Turkey. The US has halted the delivery of equipment related to its F-35 fighters to Turkey over its plans for the S-400.

"We have serious concerns about its plans to continue to procure the S-400 missile defense system and there will be possible consequences, under the sanctions law and the F-35 program, if it continues," the State Department official said.

The US says that Turkey's purchase of a Russian missile defense system will compromise the safety of the F-35 aircraft.

Yesterday, Turkey proposed to the US to form a working group that will determine that the Russian S-400 does not pose a threat to US or NATO military equipment, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu said.

The contribution of allies is growing

Trump said his pressure on NATO members to pay more for defense is leading to tens of billions of dollars in additional contributions, but that the allies must increase their budgets even more. Stoltenberg stated that NATO members are increasing military spending.

"All allies are increasing military spending. Before, they took away billions, and now they are adding billions," he said.

“In the last two years alone, European allies and Canada have spent an additional $41 billion on defense. By the end of next year, that figure will rise to $100 billion," Stoltenberg said.