McConnell Remarks On Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
‘As he departs his post, Secretary General Stoltenberg should take great pride in the historic accomplishments of his tenure and remain optimistic, as I am, in the course he’s set for the alliance. He has the gratitude of allies and partners across the free world. And he’ll leave big shoes for his successor, Mark Rutte, to fill.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:
“Fortunately, the most successful military alliance in history has had some strong leadership in Brussels with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. I am deeply grateful for his tireless work on both urgent and long-term challenges facing the alliance, and for his deep devotion to the cause of collective defense.
“The Secretary General took office months after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2014. And after a pivotal decade, he will leave the alliance with renewed clarity and resolve to face even graver Russian aggression and linked authoritarian threats around the world.
“For ten years, he’s worked relentlessly to expand allies’ focus to include serious challenges emanating from beyond NATO’s borderlands.
“Recognizing the links between major threats to global security, he’s improved the alliance’s engagement with critical Indo-Pacific nations like Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
“Just yesterday, he led allies in making clear that China is the ‘decisive enabler’ of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and that the PRC ‘cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation.’
“He’s successfully expanded NATO, most recently welcoming Sweden and Finland as highly-capable additions to our ranks.
“And in the face of Russian aggression, the Secretary General has been an extraordinarily effective advocate and spokesman for collective defense, rallying renewed investment from allies and leading the most significant NATO rearmament since the Cold War.
“As he navigated the predictably diverse and spirited views of dozens of allies, the Secretary General demonstrated a keen appreciation for America’s legitimate, longstanding, and bipartisan concerns about burden-sharing across the alliance, and has repeatedly urged allies to take on more of the responsibility of our shared security.
“On a personal note, I’m immensely grateful for the time the Secretary General and I have spent working closely together. I’ve appreciated his candor, his professionalism, and his devotion to our common cause.
“And I was particularly proud to welcome him to address a joint meeting of Congress earlier in his term.
“As he departs his post, Secretary General Stoltenberg should take great pride in the historic accomplishments of his tenure and remain optimistic, as I am, in the course he’s set for the alliance. He has the gratitude of allies and partners across the free world. And he’ll leave big shoes for his successor, Mark Rutte, to fill.”
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Related Issues: NATO
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