NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns Europeans and Americans against the temptation of "isolationism" in his farewell speech, which he will deliver today, before his departure from the head of the Alliance in October.
After ten years at the head of that organization, the former Norwegian prime minister is leaving that position, and he will be replaced by the former Dutch prime minister, Mark Rute.
"Voices have been raised on both sides of the Atlantic calling for America and Europe to go their separate ways... isolationism will not guarantee security for anyone," Stoltenberg wrote in the speech, parts of which were published by NATO.
"Concentrating on short-term national interests at the expense of long-term cooperation will not be for our benefit," warns Stoltenberg.
The presidential candidate of the American Republicans, Donald Trump, has repeatedly criticized the European allies of the USA for being "bad payers" and even threatened that, if they do not contribute enough to the funding of the Alliance, they will be left to fend for themselves if they too are attacked by Russia.
"The significance of the Atlantic Alliance has been called into question. It has been called divided, outdated, 'in brain death'. But the reality is that NATO is stronger and more important than ever," said Stoltenberg in his last speech as Secretary General of the organization.
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