AM THE

RESIDENT. BEFORE WE DO PUBLIC EVENTS WE ALWAYS START AVAILABLE SAFETY. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TODAY, YOU ARE GOING TO FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS AND IF I ASK YOU TO GO OUT OF THE EXITS THE STAIRWELL IS RIGHT IN THAT CORNER. WE WILL GO DOWNSTAIRS. IF WE HAD OUT TO THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND IN THE FRONT WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THAT THE BEAUTIFUL PARK FOR ENTERTAINMENT OR FOOD OR SOMETHING. JUST FOLLOW ME IF WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. IT WILL BE FINE. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TODAY FOR ME TO WELCOME THE SECRETARY GENERAL. I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE HIM FROM A DISTANCE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. AS I SAID I AM NOT KIDDING. I’M THE RESIDENT AND I DO HAVE A VERY FOND ATTACHMENT TO MY OWN HOME COUNTRY AND IN THAT CAPACITY, WATCHED THE SECRETARY GENERAL WHEN HE DID A MARVELOUS JOB AS PRIME MINISTER. I DON’T KNOW IF IT STARTED OUT AS A STATISTICIAN. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS IMPECCABLE, BUT HIS POLICY INTEREST AND SCOPE IS VAST AND IT’S A COMBINATION OF SKILLS THAT WE NEED NOW. WE ARE FACING SOME VERY BIG CHALLENGES IN A WAY AND I THINK ALL OF US HAVE HOPED THE WAR HAD ENDED AND CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF HISTORY AND WE ARE NOW BACK TO A SCRATCHY RELATIONSHIP AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT SOMEONE OF THE TALENT AND CALIBER IS LEADING THE WAY FOR ALL OF US DURING THESE RATHER TRYING TIMES. IN OUR CONVERSATION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT AMERICA FACES TODAY. DO WE HAVE THE FOUNDATION OF STRENGTH THAT WE HAVE IN NATO, AND IT’S ON A FOUNDATION THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY GOING FORWARD. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE WILL COME THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HIS EXCELLENCY. [APPLAUSE] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE AND TO BE IN THIS

BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. YOU TOLD ME WHEN WE WERE SITTING IN THE ROOM BEHIND HERE THAT WE ARE FAMILY FAMILIES FROM NORWAY AND THAT’S GREAT. BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN NORWAY. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING A POWER LINE AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONFLICTS I HAD DURING MY TIME SINCE I BUILT THE POWER LINE. I WILL DARE GO BACK. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU ARE VERY PROUD OF THE ROOTS AND THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO BE PROUD OF THAT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE ROYAL ORDER THAT IS THE HIGHEST HONOR MY COUNTRY CAN BESTOW ON THE FOREIGN CITIZENS COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT FOR MANY YEARS YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO DEVELOP THE BONDS AND THE CORPORATION BETWEEN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE TO THE TRANS-ATLANTIC BONDS THAT WE SEE SO RIGHTLY FOR THE SECURITY. I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THESE ROOTS IN THE ORDER OF MERIT AND THE ENGAGEMENT AT LAST THE SIS ALL OF THAT MAKES YOU A PERFECT POST TO THE NORWEGIAN SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT. AND WHAT WE ASK THE TRANS-ATLANTIC COMMUNITY TO DO ABOUT THE CHANGING SECURITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE FACING SO WE ARE AT THE TIME FOR THE SECURITY IN THE FACE RAISING CHALLENGES. THE FABRIC OF THE SECURITY ORDER IS THE STATE. AND WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE LONG HAUL. THAT’S WHY WE NEED TO ADAPT. THE CHALLENGES ARE COMPLEX AND DIVERSE. THE ARAB SPRING HAS TURNED UP TO BRUTAL WINTER. THE OLD AND WEAK STATES ARE FUELING REGIONAL STABILITY. AND SECTARIAN STRIFE. THE OTHER EXTREMIST GROUPS SPREAD TERROR AND INTOLERANCE, AND INSPIRE ATTACKS FROM PARIS TO TEXAS AND PEOPLE MOVING LARGE NUMBERS MANY TO FLEE AND OTHERS TO FIGHT. NATO IS PLAYING ITS PART IN ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA AND I’M READY TO SET OUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IN GREAT DETAIL. BUT LET ME IN MY OPENING REMARKS NOT ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES AND RECEIPT OF THE SOUTH WOULD FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING COMING FROM THE EAST AND I PROMISE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS AFTERWARDS. THEY ARE COMING FROM BUT RESEARCH IN RUSSIA. IT’S CONTINUE TO BE ESTABLISHED UKRAINE AND ITS PROSPECTS TO GEAR UP. THIS CONFLICT HAS ALREADY COST OVER 6,000 LIVES. THE FIGHTING COULD FIGHTING COULD PLAY HER AT ANY MOMENT. THAT IS WHY I FULLY SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS GERMANY AND FRANCE TO FIND A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE. THE PATH TO PEACE IS THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEANS OF — MINSK AGREEMENT. RUSSIA HAS A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY. IT SUPPORTS THE SEPARATISTS IN EASTERN UKRAINE WITH TRAINING, WEAPONS AND FORCES IT MAINTAINS A LARGE LEVEL ON UKRAINE BORDERS BUT WE CANNOT LOOK AT THE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS. THEY ARE PART OF A DISTURBING PATTERN THAT GOES WELL BEYOND UKRAINE. AND THIS UNDERMINES THE PRINCIPLES OF EUROPEAN SECURITY. RESPECT FOR BORDERS, THE INDEPENDENCE OF STATES, TRANSPARENCY, PROJECTED A BUDDY OF MILITARY ACTIVITIES, AND THE COMMITMENT TO RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES TO THE DIPLOMACY, NOT FORCE. LET’S LOOK AT RESPECT FOR BORDERS. THE UN CHARTER AND THE ACT ARE CLEAR. RUSSIA HELPED TO DRAFT THESE DOCUMENTS AND ASSIGNED THEM BUT IT HAS BROKEN ITS COMMITMENT. CRANIA HAS BEEN PART OF UKRAINE SINCE THE COUNTRY BECAME INDEPENDENT, BUT RUSSIA SEND IN TROOPS AND ORGANIZED THE SO-CALLED REFERENDUM THAT HAD NO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD AND CEASED PART OF ANOTHER COUNTRY. PRESIDENT PUTIN EVEN ADMITTED PUBLICLY THAT THE ANNEXATION HAD BEEN PLANNED IN ADVANCE. AFTER 2008, RUSSIA RECOGNIZED THE REGIONS AS INDEPENDENT STATES AND IT’S TAKEN ALMOST FULL CONTROL OVER BOTH BETWEEN THEM AND THE REST OF GEORGIA AND ALSO SENT TROOPS THAT THEY WANT OUT AND WHICH RUSSIA PLEDGED TO WITHDRAW IN 1999. SO THEY’VE BEEN VIOLATING THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORS FOR YEARS AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. THAT BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND PRINCIPLE, THE INDEPENDENCE OF STATES. UKRAINE’S P5 DESIRE TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE EUROPEAN UNION WAS MET BY FORCE. SO WAS GEORGIA’S ASPIRATION TO JOIN NATO. MOLDOVA HAS RECEIVED CLEAR WARNINGS ABOUT THE MOVE TOWARD EUROPE. THEY CLAIM THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTS THE PRIVILEGED INTEREST BUT IT’S TO CREATE THE INFERENCE AND TAKE US BACK IN TIME. SO WHEN THE GREAT POWERS DREW THE LINES ON THE MAP AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SMALLER STATES, THE NATIONS WERE NOT FREE TO DECIDE THEIR OWN DESTINY THIS COULD CREATE A SEVERE INSTABILITY AND IT’S NOT THE SORT OF EUROPE THAT WE WANT. WE WILL ACCEPT AT THE END OF THE COLD WAR. THE THIRD IS TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICTABILITY IN THE MILITARY ACTIVITIES. WE BUILT A STABLE SYSTEM BASED ON FEWER FORCES, FEWER WEAPONS AND LARGE EXERCISES AND MORE INFORMATION SHARING. AN ARMY ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS TO BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE ACROSS THE FORMER DIVIDING LINES THESE REDUCE THE RISK CALCULATIONS AND THE CONVENTIONAL FORCES IN EUROPE PUT LIMITS ON THE NUMBERS OF MOVEMENTS OF EQUIPMENT LIKE TANKS AND FIGHTER TANKS BUT RUSSIA UNILATERALLY SUSPENDED THE IMPLEMENTATION. THE OPEN SKIES TREATY ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT THE TERRITORY TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY. BUT RUSSIA IS OBSTRUCTING THESE ACTIVITIES. BEYOND THE DOCUMENT THAT SETS UP THE RULES FOR REPORTING THE EXERCISES AND ALLOWS FOR INSPECTION. THEY HAVE FOUND WAYS AROUND IT TO AVOID THE LARGEST MILITARY EXERCISES IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA. THREE OF THESE EXERCISES HAVE INCLUDED OVER 80,000 TROOPS. MOVING GREAT DISTANCES AND AT GREAT SPEEDS. IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR IT WAS USED TO DEPLOY FORCES TO ANNEX CRIMEA. IT LED TO THE BUILDUP OF FORCES ON THE BORDER. RUSSIA IS CONDUCT IN ANOTHER STAFF EXERCISE WITH 250 ACROSS AND 700 PIECES OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT. NATO ON THE OTHER HAND STRIVES TO CREATE TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICTABILITY. OUR LARGEST EXERCISE IN 20 YEARS WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT FAULT IN ITALY. IT WAS ANNOUNCED A YEAR AGO IT WAS NOT A SNAP EXERCISE. NATIONAL OBSERVERS INCLUDING RUSSIA WILL HAVE ACCESS TO OUR EXERCISE AND YOU CAN FIND THE SCHEDULE OR THE PLANNED EXERCISES ON THEIR WEBSITE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. THEY ARE GIVING ALL THEY CAN TO MINIMIZE THE TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT ITS FORCES ARE DOING. AND THIS BRINGS ME TO MY FINAL PRINCIPLE. RESOLVING THE DIFFERENCES TO THE DIALOGUE, NOT FORCES. AT THE PATTERN THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED IN UKRAINE AND GEORGIA AND MOLDOVA, RUSSIA HAS THE ABILITY TO USE FORCE OR TO COERCE ITS NEIGHBORS. AND THE RECENT USE OF NUCLEAR RHETORIC EXERCISES THE OPERATIONS THAT ARE DEEPLY TROUBLING. AS OUR CONCERNS REGARDING ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR FORCES TREATY. PRESIDENT PUTIN’S EMISSION BUT HE CONSIDERED PUTTING RUSSIA AS THE FIVE NUCLEAR FORCES ON ALERT IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE. RUSSIA HAS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE SCALE, THE NUMBER AND THE RANGE OF PRODUCTIVE FLIGHTS BY THE NUCLEAR BOMBERS ACROSS MUCH OF THE GLOBE. FROM JAPAN, TO CALIFORNIA, AND FROM THE BALTIC SEA. RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED PLANS ON THE SYSTEMS AND THEY CLAIM THAT RUSSIA HAS THE RIGHT TO DEPLOY THE NUCLEAR FORCES TO CRIMEA. THIS WILL CHANGE THE BALANCE OF SECURITY IN EUROPE. WE LEARNED DURING THE COLD WAR THAT WHEN IT COMES TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAN’T CAUTION, PREDICTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE VITAL. IT IS UNJUSTIFIED, DESTABILIZING AND DANGEROUS. ALL OF THIS TAKES PLACE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE SIGNIFICANT ARMAMENT PROGRAM. SOME OF ITS NEW MILITARY SYSTEMS WORKED ON THE PARADE DURING THE VICTORY DAY CELEBRATION. AND RUSSIA IS DEPLOYING ITS MOST MODERN SYSTEMS AND BASING THE MILITARY UNITS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THESE ARE NOT RANDOM EVENTS. THEY FORM A BIGGER PICTURE WHICH IS OF GREAT CONCERN. RUSSIA IS A GLOBAL ACTOR THAT IS ASSERTING ITS MILITARY POWER, STARING AT AGGRESSIVE NATIONALISM, CLAIMING THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE ITS WILL ON ITS NEIGHBORS AND GRABBING LAND. WE REGRET THAT RUSSIA IS TAKING THIS COURSE BECAUSE WHEN RIGHT BECOMES RIGHT, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE GRAVE. FOR 25 YEARS, WE WORKED HARD TO INCLUDE, NOT ISOLATE RUSSIA. OUR AIM WAS A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP. THE BORDERS WERE OPEN, TRADE WENT OUT AND TRUST INCREASED. THE G7 EXPANDED TO BECOME THE G-8 AND RUSSIA WAS INVITED INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. WE CREATED THE NATO RUSSIA COUNCIL AND OFFERED TO WORK TOGETHER ON MISSILE DEFENSE. WE COOPERATED FROM COUNTING PIRACY AND TERRORISM TO HELPING AFGHANISTAN. ALL OF THIS BENEFITED US AND IT BENEFITED RUSSIA. BUT TODAY THE CHOICES MADE BY MOSCOW HAVE TAKEN UP RELATIONS TO THEIR LOWEST POINT IN DECADES WE ARE NOT BACK TO THE COLD WAR BUT WE ARE FAR FROM THAT STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP. SO WE NEED TO ADAPT TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT MAY BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME. THIS ADAPTATION WE ARE DOING IT IN THREE WAYS. REINFORCING OUR COLLECTIVE DEFENSE, REINFORCING OUR DETERRENCE, MANAGING RELATIONS WITH THE RESURGENT RUSSIA AND SUPPORTING OUR EUROPEAN NEIGHBORS. FIRST, STRONG DEFENSE. THE TASK IS COLLECTIVE DEFENSE. OUR COMMITMENT TO DEFEND EACH OTHER AND THE WASHINGTON TREATY IS AS STRONG AND RELEVANT TODAY AS EVER BEFORE. THAT’S WHY WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE BIGGEST COLLECTIVE DEFENSE SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR. IT’S IN THE EASTERN PART OF EUROPE ON LAND AND WATER AND SEE BEEFING UP THE EXERCISE PROGRAMS WE ARE DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE NATO RESPONSE FORCE. IT’S READY TO MOVE. OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES HAVE GUARANTEED TO BE THAT THIS COULD FORCE OVER THE COMING YEARS. AND WE ARE ESTABLISHING NEW UNITS ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF OUR LIVES. TO FORCE THEM TO EXERCISE AND REINFORCE YESTERDAY I THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. AND THE OPERATION ATLANTIC RESULT. ACROSS THE LINES THE PRESIDENT SENDS A CLEAR SIGNAL AMERICA STANDS WITH EUROPE AND EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS THE TRANS-ATLANTIC TEAMWORK. BUT THERE IS MORE TO DO BEFORE. WE ARE ENHANCING OUR CYBER DEFENSES AND MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE CYBER ATTACK COULD TRIGGER A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE WE ARE WORKING WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION. WE ARE CAREFULLY ASSESSING WHAT RUSSIA IS DOING WITH ITS NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES. KEEPING NATO STRONG DOESN’T WORK FOR FREE SO WE MUST REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO MEET THE DEFENSE INVESTMENT PLEDGE THAT WE MADE LAST YEAR TO STOP THE CUTS AND GRADUALLY INCREASE THE SPENDING TO 2% OF GDP AND SPEND BETTER. THIS BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND POINT. A STRONG NEED TO KNOW ISN’T ONLY THE BEST BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES US WITH THE BEST FOUNDATION TO MANAGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA. WE DO NOT SEEK CONSULTATION WITH RUSSIA NOR DO WE SEEK ITS ISOLATION. WE STILL ASPIRE TO A CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA BECAUSE THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE ATLANTIC SECURITY AND THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL BORDER. BUT RUSSIA HAS CHANGED AND WE MUST ADAPT. IN DOING SO, WE WILL CHANGE BR. WE ARE STICKING TO OUR PRINCIPLES AND TO OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING EUROPEAN SECURITY INSTITUTIONS AND AGREEMENTS. WE WILL REMAIN TRANSPIRED AND PREDICTABLE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THIS INFORMATION WITH INFORMATION, NOT PROPAGANDA , AND WE WILL KEEP THE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION OPEN WITH RUSSIA. BOTH MILITARY TO MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION IN STRENGTHENING THE COLLECTIVE DEFENSE AND STAYING OPEN FOR DIALOGUE. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. IN THIS DIALOGUE WE WILL UPHOLD THE SOVEREIGNTY AND THE INTEGRITY OF ALL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THIS BRINGS ME TO MY THIRD AND FINAL POINT SUPPORTING OUR PARTNERS IN EUROPE. IT IS IN OUR INTEREST AS A TRANS-ATLANTIC COMMUNITY TO HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE STABLE AND INDEPENDENT. THAT’S WHY NATO IS WORKING WITH GEORGIA, MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE TO HELP THEM CARRY OUT REFORMS AND BUILD STRONG INSTITUTIONS. OF THESE NATIONS ARE NOT THE FIRST OWNS. THEY ARE IN THE SOVEREIGN STATES AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP THEM ON THE PATH. BECAUSE OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE MORE STABLE, WE ARE MORE SECURE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR DECADES AS A TRANS-ATLANTIC COMMUNITY WE’VE KEPT OUR PEOPLE SAFE. WE HAVE ERASED THE VISIONS IN EUROPE, WE’VE BUILT A LOOSE BASED ORDER THAT THE BENEFITS US ALL. BUT AS EVER CHALLENGES INCREASE, WE MUST ADAPT. TO PROTECT THE VALUES OF OUR OPEN SOCIETIES AND TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS THIS REQUIRED COMMITMENT AND SOLIDARITY THE WORLD IS CHANGING AND WE ARE CHANGING. BUT ONE THING THAT WILL NOT CHANGE IS OUR DETERMINATION TO STAY AND STAND UNITED. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. THAT WAS A CLEAR AND CONCISE MESSAGE THAT

IS URGENTLY NEEDED. WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU COULD JOIN US. I AM THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT HERE AT THE CENTER AND WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO HAVE YOUR FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS AS THE SECRETARY GENERAL IN WASHINGTON. WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES OR SO IS TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR OFFER TO ASK QUESTIONS AND MOVE TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE TO THE SOUTH BUT I’D LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS AND I THINK THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF MY JOB IS TO LIMIT MY QUESTIONS. THERE IS SO MUCH WE CAN COVER. AFTER WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES HERE THEN WE WELCOME OUR AUDIENCE AND I KNOW THEY ASK VERY TOUGH QUESTIONS SO WE WILL ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION. SECRETARY, YOU’VE BEEN IN THE JOB FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LONGER STARTING AFTER THE SUMMIT IN NEWPORT. AND YOU OFFERED A VERY FRANK ASSESSMENT OF THE MILITARY EXERCISE. BUT HOW HAVE THEY BEEN EXERCISING HAVEN’T DONE THIS TYPE OF DEFENSE IN QUITE A LONG TIME. WHAT ARE THE REFLECTIONS THAT YOU ARE SEEING. >> THAT GOES FOR THE ALLIES AND OF COURSE RUSSIA. SO MY POINT IS NOT TO ARGUE AGAINST EXERCISES. IF THE FORCES ARE TO EXERCISE THEM,

THE CHALLENGE. IT IS UNDERMINING THE TRANSPARENCY AND AS IT IS STATED IN MY SPEECH REVIEWS THESE EXERCISES AS A DISGUISE FOR ANNEXING CRIMEA AND TO MASK THE TROOPS ON THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE AND ALSO TO SEND TROOPS INTO EASTERN UKRAINE TO SUPPORT THE SEPARATISTS SO THEY ARE USING THESE EXERCISES AS A WAY TO DISGUISE THE OPTIONS, AND BY DOING SO WITHOUT ANY WARNING THERE ARE DECREASING PREDICTABILITY IS AN INCREASING UNCERTAINTY, AND THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE INTENTIONS DESCRIBED WHICH ARE AIMING SO THERE ARE WORRIED MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND THAT’S THE REASON WHY WE ARE FROM THE NATO SIDE TRANSPARENT, PREDICTABLE. SO YOU CAN GO ON THE WEBSITE JUST TO MEET SURE THAT THEY ARE TRANSPARENT ENOUGH. THAT IS PART OF THE RESPONSE TO GET THE ACTIONS OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AND WE WILL DO EVEN MORE EXERCISES BUT WE VOTED IN A TRANSPARENT AND A PREDICTABLE WAY. >> IS IT BEST TO RETURN RUSSIA TO THE DOCUMENT THAT THEY FIND OR DO WE NEED SOMETHING NEW? SOME

SUGGEST WE NEED A CODE OF CONDUCT TO GET TO THE NOTIFICATION TO THE AIRCRAFT THAT HAVE TURNED OFF TRANSPONDERS AS THEY ARE FLYING INTO CROWDED CIVILIAN AIRSPACE. HOW DO WE MEET ITS IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE? DO WE NEED A CODE OF CONDUCT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE? >> IT WAS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD THING TO

DO TO EXERCISE THE MILITARY ACTIVITY. THEN OF COURSE, WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING ON HOW WE CAN DEVELOP THESE KIND OF AGREEMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE NOT NATO AGREEMENT. BUT OF COURSE THE ALLIES ARE TAKING PART IN THE AGREEMENTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE RISK OF AIR ACTIVITY. THEY’VE INCREASED THE ACTIVITY BY AROUND 50% BY INTERCEPTING A FEW YEARS AGO. THEY PROVIDED A REPORT OF THE MILITARY ACTIVITY AND ALSO WITHOUT THE TRANSPONDERS. AND NATO WAS COMMENDED FOR THE WAY THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING WITHOUT TRANSPONDERS TO THE CIVILIAN AIR TRAFFIC. SO TO TURN ON TRANSPONDERS. YOU HAVE PAINTED A STARK PICTURE OF THE AGGRESSIVE POSTURE OF THE NUCLEAR ISSUE. AT LAST SEPTEMBER’S NEWPORT SUMMIT THERE WERE ACTIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED THE HIGH READINESS TASK FORCE AND A VARIETY OF OTHER ISSUES. AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR’S SUMMIT IN JULY, YOU MENTIONED THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL. DO YOU SEE THAT AS ONE OF THE IMPLEMENTATIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED AT NEWPORT OR DO YOU SEE IT MOVING INTO THE LONG HAUL, THE LONG-TERM STRATEGIC POSTURE? WE HOSTED THIS LAST WEEK AND ARGUED FOR THE INITIATIVE FOR THE STRATEGIC ADAPTATION AND LONG-TERM PERMANENT PRESENCE. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AS YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT ADVANCE? TO MAKE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CHANGED SECURITY ENVIRONMENT AND THEREFORE WE HAVE TO ADAPT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND IT HAS TO BE BIG AND FUNDAMENTAL AND THEREFORE I VERY MUCH BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO IS CHARGE THE WAY FORWARD IN THIS ADAPTATION OF NATO. THAT IS PARTLY ABOUT INCREASING THE COLLECTIVE DEFENSE. THEY HAVE TO DO MORE BUT ALSO OF COURSE ADDRESSING THE ELEMENTS FOR INSTANCE CYBER INTELLIGENCE AND MANY OTHER WHERE WE HAVE TO DO MORE AND DEVELOP THE NEW CAPABILITIES AND ADAPT. THEN I WILL ADD THAT IN ADDITION TO OUTLINING THE NEXT PHASE. IT IS WHERE WE TAKE STOCK BECAUSE IMPLEMENTATION IS ALSO IMPORTANT. MANY MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY SHOULD BE SO ITS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING A READINESS ACTION PLAN IN FORCES AND NOT LEAST OF WHICH COMES TO DEFENSE INVESTMENTS AND STARTING TO INCREASE. >> A FOLLOW-UP ON THE STABILITY I THINK HE MENTIONED THERE IS A BIT OF A TIME GAP AS RUSSIA PUTS FORWARD

THE STATE BORDERS. THEY HAVE A 48 HOUR DEPLOYMENT AND IT COULD BE SOMETHING OF A FASTER SPEED POTENTIAL USING HYBRID TACTICS. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT TIMING AND HOW FAST THEY CAN DEPLOY THE SCENARIO? >> THAT’S THE REASON WE HAVE INCREASED THE

PREPAREDNESS. WE HAVE THE TROOPS BASED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THEY WILL BE THERE AND THIS IS THE COMBINATION OF THE ABILITY TO REINFORCE AND I WELCOME THE BORDER COUNTRIES ARE NOW INCREASING THEIR OWN INVESTMENTS IN THE FANS. WE WILL ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN THE WAY THAT WE ESTABLISHED A COMMAND UNITS AND THAT IS SOMETHING NEW AND I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT IN THE NATO PRESENCE IT WILL ALSO MAKE REINFORCEMENT EASIER. SO NATIONAL PRESENCE AND INCREASED PREPAREDNESS BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE MEASURES WITH MORE TROOPS ON THE GROUND, SO IT’S THE WHOLE COMBINATION THAT PROVIDES WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ME. >> ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE I TURN TO THE AUDIENCE AND OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS. ANOTHER ASPECT OF MANAGING RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA IS ABOUT THE AGENDA AND I CAN’T

LET YOU GO UNLESS I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT 2012 SECRETARY CLINTON ARGUED AFTER THE CHICAGO NATO SUMMIT THAT THIS WOULD BE THE SUMMIT THAT WOULDN’T OF THAT WOULDN’T BE DISCUSSED AND WE HAD ANOTHER SUMMIT THAT WASN’T TACKLED AS WE HEADED TOWARDS WARSAW. OBVIOUSLY NOT JUST FOR GEORGIA AND UKRAINE IN THE ALLIANCE, BUT TODAY’S COALITION PLATFORM SUGGESTED THEY ARE KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN. IS THERE A PATH FORWARD? >> IT HAS BEEN HISTORICAL SUCCESS AND OF COURSE A COMBINATION HAS REALLY

TRANSFORMED. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERLINE THAT PRINCIPLE OF EVERY NATION TO DECIDE ITS OWN PATH INCLUDING ARRANGEMENT IT WANTS TO BE PART OF. IT’S SOMETHING THAT RUSSIA HAS ALSO ASSIGNED TO. AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT IS WHETHER ANOTHER COUNTRY WILL BECOME A MEMBER IS GOING TO BE DECIDED BY THAT COUNTRY AND THE ALLIES. NO ONE ELSE HAS THE RIGHT TO DENY OR TO CHOOSE THE PATH IT WANTS. WE’VE DECIDED THAT WE WILL MAKE THE DECISIONS ON MONTENEGRO BY THE END OF THIS YEAR SO THIS WILL BE AFTER THE MEETING IN NATO. I AM RELUCTANT IF I SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT IT WILL CONTRIBUTE IN A POSITIVE WAY SO THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY APPLY. >> OKAY. WE ARE READY TO UNLEASH THE AUDIENCE. WE HAVE ABOUT 15 MINUTES. CAN WE BUNDLE A FEW QUESTIONS

IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND AFFILIATION WE HAVE MICROPHONES PASSING AROUND YOU TO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SPEAK VERY DIRECTLY. WHY DON’T WE START IN THE BACK. I SEE QUESTIONS IN THE BACK JUST WAIT FOR THE MICROPHONE PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. I’M A FELLOW AT THE ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING YOU A FEW

YEARS AGO AND THE YOUNG ACTIVISTS IN GEORGIA NOW MY QUESTION ON THE FELLOWSHIP I WAS BENIGHTED AND I HOPE THAT YOU COULD HELP ME FIND AN ANSWER WHEN THEY RESHAPED THE SOVIET UNION HAD HELPED THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAIN ITS STRENGTH. MY QUESTION IS REGARDING GEORGIA. WOULD YOU THINK THAT THEY WOULD MAKE ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS THE MEMBERSHIP PLAN OR IF NOT, WHAT WE JUST SAY THAT IT WOULD BE FOR GEORGIA LIKE WITH GEORGIA BENEFIT FROM THE LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP VERSUS MEMBERSHIP? >> THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO ASK FOR

INTERNSHIPS. >> THANK YOU SECRETARY GENERAL. I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN PUSH YOU A LITTLE BIT. WE HAD A BIT OF DEVELOPMENTS TAKING

PLACE IN THE PARTNERSHIP. HOW DO YOU SEE THIS GOING FORWARD AS A PARTNERSHIP AND IN TERMS OF THE MEMBERSHIP ABOUT KEEPING THE OPTIONS OPEN IT TO SEE IF I CAN GET YOUR TAKE ON HOW USEFUL IT WOULD BE AND WHAT THAT REALLY HELP THEM TO REASSURE THEM AND WOULD IT EVEN BE PRODUCTIVE FOR RUSSIA. >> WE WILL TAKE ONE MORE RIGHT

HERE. >> ITALY IS VERY PROUD OF BEING THE PROVIDING POLICE TO THE STATES AS WE SPEAK. WE ARE ONE OF THOSE NATIONS THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE

LEADING NATIONS CONTRADICTING TO THE CYBER CENTER AND AT THE SAME TIME I WOULD BE INTERESTED ON WHAT THE ROLE COULD BE IN THOSE CHALLENGES. THANK YOU. >> SO THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE SOUTH. >> THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL OF NATO THAT IS A GOOD LOOK

AND THEY HAVE A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE SUBSTANTIAL PACKAGE WHICH IS EXPANDING FURTHER INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA. WE ARE ESTABLISHING THE TRAINING CENTERS AND WE ARE REALLY DOING SUBSTANTIAL ACTIVITIES. AND IN THE DEFENSE CAPACITY BUILDING IN GEORGIA WHICH INCREASES THE ABILITY TO DEFEND ITSELF I THINK THAT’S IMPORTANT FOR THE REGION. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MEMBERSHIP THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY THAN WHAT HAS BEEN STATED AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WAS AT THE SUMMIT IN 2008 WHERE WE MADE THE DECISIONS. THEY ARE RESTATED BUT WHAT WE DECIDED WAS THE FIRST APPLICANT AS THEY WERE GOING TO ADDRESS LATER THIS YEAR. THEN ON SWEDEN I APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE WITH GEORGIA AND THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A LOT OF THE CORPORATIONS SO WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND DEVELOP. THEN YOU SAID YOU WOULD TRY TO PUSH IT FURTHER BUT WOULDN’T SUCCEED. IT’S EASY TO JOKE ABOUT THIS ABOUT A THINK IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT EVERYTHING I SAY ABOUT THE ADVANTAGE OF THE SOCIETY ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND FOR THE MISUSE IF I WAS A JOURNALIST OR A SCIENTIST OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE I’M THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND THEN THAT’S THE REASON THAT WE JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT AND THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION IN THE COUNTRIES TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO APPLY IN THE SAME WAY AS ANY OTHER APPLICATION THAT LETS ME ADD ANOTHER. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH SWEDEN AND FINLAND AND THERE ARE ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES AND WE ARE DOING MORE AND MORE TOGETHER WITH THEM AND WE ARE SHARING INFORMATION AND WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH THEM AND WE DECIDED TO GO FURTHER IN DEVELOPING OUR PARTNERSHIP SO THEY ARE REALLY CLOSE PARTNERS. TO THE EAST WE SEE THE CHALLENGES IN THE STATE AND WE RESPOND IN A WAY THAT IS FAMILIAR TO WHAT WE’VE DONE BEFORE AND IN THE SOUTH WE ARE FACED WITH NON- STATE CHALLENGES AND THAT IS A MIXED AND COMPLICATED PICTURE WITH VIOLENCE AND TURMOIL. WE ALSO SEE THE ATTACKS TAKING PLACE IN SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I WOULD WELCOME THAT ALL ALLIES CONTRIBUTE TO THE COALITION AND I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE REASONS THE PARTNERS CAN CONTRIBUTE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEVELOPED INTEROPERABILITY. THEY’VE LEARNED HOW TO WORK TOGETHER IN AFGHANISTAN SO EVEN THOUGH THIS ISN’T A NATO OPERATION IT IS VERY USEFUL. THEN IN ADDITION, THEY DECIDED TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE IDEA TO PROJECT TO THE STABILITY AND BY BUILDING THE LOCAL FORCES THEY CAN TAKE MORE OF THIS POSSIBILITY FOR THE SECURITY AND THEREBY WE CAN PROTECT THE LARGE NUMBER OF THE FORCES AND WE ARE DOING THAT IN JORDAN. WE HAVE REDUCED AND WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF HELPING THEM BUILD INSTITUTION REFORMS AND INCREASED THEIR ABILITY. WE STAND READY TO DO THAT IN LIBYA WHEN THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND ALLOWS. AND EVEN IF WE DON’T CALL IT THE CAPACITY BUILDING. THEY TAKE THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY. AND I THINK THAT TO DEVELOP AND TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRIES BUT ALSO NATO AND WE HAVE TO DO MORE OF THAT. >> WE WILL TAKE A VITAMIN AROUND ON THE NEXT THREE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE ONE IN THE BACK RIGHT

THERE. >> THANK YOU. VOICE OF AMERICA. I WOULD LIKE TO

ASK THE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES HEAR MORE VOICES NOW IN THE MEDIA AND ON THE INTERNET THAT UKRAINE AND THE STANDOFF WITH RUSSIA IS MOSTLY A EUROPEAN PROBLEM AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE PUTTING MOST EFFORT INTO RESOLVING THE CRISIS AND IT SHOULD BE GERMANY OR FRANCE LEADING THE WAY? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. SHOULD WE TAKE ONE MORE IN THE BACK IN THE CORNER

PLEASE? >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A BRITISH EXCHANGE IN DC. IT WAS A FASCINATING EXERCISE HERE LAST YEAR WHICH

CONSIDERED THE SCENARIO ON ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS IN THE AUDIENCE AND THERE WAS ALMOST NO AGREEMENT ON WHAT CONSTITUTED A BREACH OF ARTICLE FIVE. I WONDER IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF DEFINING THE THRESHOLD AT WHICH IT IS BREACHED PARTICULARLY AND THEN IN A NAME LIKE CYBER AND ALSO MAYBE SPEAKS LIKELY TO DEALING WITH AN ADVERSARY THAT THE DETERMINEDLY STAYS BELOW THAT THRESHOLD. >> FANTASTIC QUESTION. I THINK WITH TIME AND GOING TO HAVE YOU RESPONDED TO THIS QUESTION. >> UKRAINE

IS IN EUROPE IS A PROBLEM OR A CRISIS WHICH AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES BUT THE INTERNATIONAL LAW AS A VIOLATED AND

UNDERMINES THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE ORDER THAT IS BASED ON THE RULES. SO OF COURSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GLOBAL ORDER AND WHEN THE BALL IS VIOLATED IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE SEEN UKRAINE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ANNEXATION OF THE ILLEGAL ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA. EUROPEANS ARE IN THE LEAD WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS BECAUSE FRANCE AND GERMANY IN PARTICULAR ARE REALLY IN THE LEAD. .. THERE’S ALSO GLOBAL CHALLENGE AND THE CHALLENGE WHICH TRANS-ATLANTIC ALLIANCE IS ADDRESSING. THEN WHEN IT COMES TO ARTICLE V, THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT NATO STANDS READY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND ALL ALLIES AGAINST ANYTHING. AND WHEN IT COMES TO FOR INSTANCE, FIBER, THINK IMPORTANT THING WITH IT, WAS TO DECIDE THE CYBERATTACK CAN — BECAUSE WE’VE GOT CYBER AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS A CONVENTIONAL ATTACK. AND, THEREFORE, WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR CAPABILITIES TO RESPOND PARTLY TO DETECT WHO IS BEHIND. OUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DEFEND OUR OWN NATO NETWORKS. WE ARE DEVELOPING TEAMS, CAPABILITIES, DOING MORE EXERCISES WITH CYBER DEFENSE EXERCISE. SO WE ARE INCREASING OUR READINESS TO CYBER DEFENSE. BUT THERE ARE ALSO ASSISTING IN HELPING ALLIES IN DEVELOPING THEIR OWN CAPABILITIES TO DO CYBER DEFENSE. AND AS ALWAYS, EVERY SITUATION, EVERY ATTACK IS UNIQUE BUT I THINK WHAT TRUST EVER LIKE THAT NATO WILL RESPOND AND THE PROPORTIONATE WAY COME IF AND WHEN NEEDED, WHATEVER KIND OF ATTACK WHICH ARE LAUNCHED AGAINST US. >> THE ONE THING WE LEARNED WAS POLITICAL LEADERS NEED TO EXERCISE HOW TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WHEN THEY ARE FELLOW THRESHOLD LEVELS. IT HAS TO BE PRACTICED

AND UNDERSTOOD BECAUSE ATTRIBUTION WILL NEVER BE PERFECT AND WHEN POLITICAL WILL IS PERHAPS NOT THERE, IT’S REALLY LEADERS SITTING AROUND THE TABLE EXPLORING WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN, WHAT WOULD WE NEED, WHAT IS THE INTELLIGENCE REQUIRED? THAT’S ONE AREA RECEIVED CRITICAL LEADERSHIP COULD GAIN SOME VALUE AND PRACTICING AT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS WORKS. >> FIRST OF ALL I BELIEVE IN EXERCISES. SECOND I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT EXERCISING POLITICAL LEADERS. THIRD WE NEED UTAH’S POLITICAL LEADERS BECAUSE WE HAVE ELECTED THEM,

AND RELATED TO THAT I THINK IS WE HAVE IN EVERY NATO SET UP IN X. HAPPENS, WHY WE RESPOND TO AT SOME STAGE AFTER PREPARED FOR STRATEGIES, YOUR PLAN, EXERCISE, IMAGINE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS BUT AT THE END IT WILL BE A DECISION TAKEN BY POLITICAL LEADERS HOW TO RESPOND. THEREFORE, WE NEED THE CAPABILITIES, THE CAPACITY TO RESPOND. WE NEED TO EXERCISE. WE CAN NEVER HAVE A SPECIFIC REASON EXACTLY ARE WE GOING TO RESPOND TO EVERY POSSIBLE AND IMPOSSIBLE THREAT. BECAUSE THE WORLD AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO COMPLEX. AS LONG AS YOU THEIR CAPACITIES, THE CAPABILITIES AND THEY ARE EXERCISED, WE HAVE TO TRUST OUR POLITICAL LEADERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS SPIRIT THAT IS A VERY POSITIVE NOTE TO END ON. SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CLARITY, MESSAGE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING HOW NATO DEFAULTS IN THE NEXT YEAR ON THE ROAD TO OUR NEXT SUMMIT IN WARSAW IN JULY OF NEXT YEAR. PLEASE JOIN IN THANKING SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG. [APPLAUSE] A. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US. HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE DAY. [INAUDIBLE

CONVERSATIONS] [INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS] [INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS] >> AS OF THIS EVENT COMES TO TO A CLOSE, OFFICIALS IN JERUSALEM ARE TELLING THEY A.P. TODAY