The EU and NATO signed a new agreement to confront Russia and China and to continue supporting Ukraine
The European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have signed, on Tuesday, the third joint declaration between the two parties, which is an agreement aimed at confronting Russia and China, according to its texts.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, in a press conference attended by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the joint declaration “aims to further strengthen and expand the strategic partnership between NATO and the European Union”.
The conference was held at the NATO headquarters in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
Stoltenberg added that strengthening European military capabilities “will be beneficial to the security of NATO member states”.
Stoltenberg continued, “The European defense capability contributes positively to our security, and it is a complement to NATO”.
In the context, Stoltenberg stressed the importance of cooperation between NATO and the European Union in the context of the changing security environment after the Russian war on Ukraine.
Stoltenberg pointed out that the partnership between NATO and the European Union “will become more important once Finland and Sweden become full members of NATO,” explaining that with the accession of these two countries, “NATO will protect 96% of citizens in the European Union”.
For his part, President of the European Council Charles Michel praised the current level of relations between NATO and the European bloc.
“We’re closer in our relationship with NATO than ever before, and we share the same goals,” he said during the press conference.
He added that the two sides “want to strengthen cooperation between them, to be more prepared for the next stage”.
Michel continued, “We’re working to impose the joint defense policy for the first time, and we will continue to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian military”.
