WEBVTT 00:02.065 --> 00:04.881 - This will be my shortest introduction ever, 00:04.881 --> 00:06.714 which is a good thing. 00:07.007 --> 00:09.716 Welcome to all of you as we gather here 00:09.716 --> 00:12.087 to commemorate the 70th anniversary 00:12.087 --> 00:15.337 of George Marshall's speech at Harvard, 00:15.877 --> 00:18.660 where he unveiled what became known as the Marshall Plan. 00:18.660 --> 00:21.350 And I'm delighted that you can all be here with us. 00:21.350 --> 00:24.159 Before I get started, and I'll only talk about one minute, 00:24.159 --> 00:26.542 I do want to thank you five members 00:26.542 --> 00:29.234 of the Harris Music Corps from Ulm. 00:29.234 --> 00:30.845 You honor us by your presence. 00:30.845 --> 00:31.678 Thank you very much. 00:31.678 --> 00:32.511 Well done. 00:32.511 --> 00:35.511 (audience applauds) 00:41.808 --> 00:43.531 Well, a special welcome today 00:43.531 --> 00:45.216 not only to our distinguished guests, 00:45.216 --> 00:47.799 but to Mayor Sigrid Meierhofer. 00:47.906 --> 00:49.382 I know you, there you are. 00:49.382 --> 00:52.044 Who has been a tremendous supporter of the Marshall Center 00:52.044 --> 00:53.545 since she has become the Lord Mayor 00:53.545 --> 00:55.480 of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. 00:55.480 --> 00:57.139 We also have a very special group 00:57.139 --> 00:59.219 called the Friends of the Marshall Center. 00:59.219 --> 01:01.979 These are people, German citizens who live here, 01:01.979 --> 01:06.096 who sponsor our international students in a variety of ways, 01:06.096 --> 01:07.664 and they take very good care of them. 01:07.664 --> 01:09.921 And they make their experience here in Germany 01:09.921 --> 01:11.495 something truly special. 01:11.495 --> 01:13.763 So again, thank you all you friends that are here. 01:13.763 --> 01:15.459 It's great to have you. 01:15.459 --> 01:17.417 I also have a few special guests 01:17.417 --> 01:19.938 from the Partnership for Peace Consortium. 01:19.938 --> 01:21.568 I'm not gonna name each one of you. 01:21.568 --> 01:23.014 But to all of you senior leaders, 01:23.014 --> 01:25.983 it's very good to have you present with us as well. 01:25.983 --> 01:28.791 And finally, we have a class in session now, 01:28.791 --> 01:31.645 a community of interest event on cybersecurity. 01:31.645 --> 01:34.263 We have about 40 members from thirty-some countries. 01:34.263 --> 01:37.775 And all of you over here, thank you again for joining us. 01:37.775 --> 01:39.512 You just happened to hit the right time to be here 01:39.512 --> 01:41.581 so you would get this sort of a presentation 01:41.581 --> 01:43.120 from both the defense ministers 01:43.120 --> 01:46.287 of the United States and from Germany. 01:46.756 --> 01:49.400 Again, the namesake of George Marshall, 01:49.400 --> 01:50.949 that's our Marshall Center. 01:50.949 --> 01:55.008 A very strong and growing German-American partnership. 01:55.008 --> 01:56.758 And I would be remiss 01:56.867 --> 01:59.324 if I didn't mention one other person in the audience. 01:59.324 --> 02:02.657 And that is our good friend Dr. von Geyr 02:03.880 --> 02:05.680 from the German Ministry of Defense, 02:05.680 --> 02:08.556 who I personally feel had a lot to do 02:08.556 --> 02:11.017 with making our new memorandum of agreement 02:11.017 --> 02:13.846 and making our friendship and relationship even stronger. 02:13.846 --> 02:16.659 So Andreas, thank you again very much. 02:16.659 --> 02:18.095 I'm not gonna talk anymore. 02:18.095 --> 02:19.731 I'm going to introduce our first speaker, 02:19.731 --> 02:22.873 who is the Minister of Defense of Germany, 02:22.873 --> 02:24.861 Dr. Ursula von der Leyen. 02:24.861 --> 02:29.028 She has been the minister of defense since December 2013. 02:29.387 --> 02:30.931 All of you know a lot about her. 02:30.931 --> 02:33.739 She is the first woman in this post for Germany. 02:33.739 --> 02:36.470 And I think Germany could not have chosen better. 02:36.470 --> 02:38.021 And it's a great delight 02:38.021 --> 02:40.082 that you have decided to be here with us today. 02:40.082 --> 02:42.644 And with no further ado, I'm going to invite you 02:42.644 --> 02:45.654 to come up to the stage and speak to us. 02:45.654 --> 02:46.718 Dr. von der Leyen. 02:46.718 --> 02:49.718 (audience applauds) 03:01.126 --> 03:04.174 (speaking in foreign language) 03:04.174 --> 03:07.572 - [Translator] General Dayton, thank you very much. 03:07.572 --> 03:10.385 Brigadier General Berger, thank you very much. 03:10.385 --> 03:14.205 Thank you that I have the opportunity to be here today. 03:14.205 --> 03:18.372 Jim, how wonderful is it to be here together with you 03:18.502 --> 03:21.488 and to inaugurate the strategic partnership, 03:21.488 --> 03:24.141 the strategic dialogue with you? 03:24.141 --> 03:28.141 Also, Landrat Speer and Madame Mayor Meierhofer, 03:30.024 --> 03:32.181 guests from Bulgaria, from Austria, 03:32.181 --> 03:34.348 from Romania, from Sweden, 03:34.426 --> 03:36.011 and the friends of the Marshall Center. 03:36.011 --> 03:39.261 To all of you, a whole-hearted welcome. 03:39.359 --> 03:42.483 Also, my greetings go to the staff members 03:42.483 --> 03:44.010 of the George C. Marshall Center 03:44.010 --> 03:46.309 and to all the members of the Bundeswehr. 03:46.309 --> 03:48.059 Ladies and gentlemen, 03:49.424 --> 03:50.674 there are dates 03:51.138 --> 03:54.929 that are not only matter-of-fact events in history, 03:54.929 --> 03:58.179 but they are turning points in history. 03:58.704 --> 04:02.621 Such a date was, and there's no doubt about it, 04:03.140 --> 04:05.057 the 8th of May of 1945. 04:06.223 --> 04:09.271 That is when the Wehrmacht surrendered. 04:09.271 --> 04:13.438 That is when the Second World War ended here in Europe. 04:13.649 --> 04:17.816 But it is also the date when freedom overcame dictatorship, 04:19.697 --> 04:21.780 when Europe was liberated 04:21.956 --> 04:25.740 from the criminal regime of National Socialism. 04:25.740 --> 04:28.267 Europe was a continent in ashes. 04:28.267 --> 04:30.850 Millions of people were displaced. 04:30.850 --> 04:34.100 There was hunger, desperation, despair. 04:35.299 --> 04:37.549 But only a few years later, 04:37.589 --> 04:41.339 western Europe experienced a unique recovery. 04:42.673 --> 04:45.340 People again had bread and work. 04:45.443 --> 04:48.610 The citizens and streets were rebuilt. 04:48.981 --> 04:52.731 Small shops and also larger-scale enterprises 04:52.949 --> 04:54.616 started to flourish. 04:54.964 --> 04:57.138 But what was most important was 04:57.138 --> 05:01.221 that the people regained their belief in a future 05:01.766 --> 05:04.539 of democracy and social market economy 05:04.539 --> 05:07.456 and thus, a belief in their future. 05:08.568 --> 05:10.818 And this unique development 05:11.150 --> 05:13.583 is also marked by a special date, 05:13.583 --> 05:16.333 which is the 5th of June of 1947. 05:18.242 --> 05:22.242 On this day, the former U.S. Secretary of State, 05:22.704 --> 05:24.287 George C. Marshall, 05:24.986 --> 05:28.986 gave his memorable speech at Harvard University. 05:29.774 --> 05:32.441 He announced his very bold plan. 05:33.908 --> 05:36.343 He said that the European states 05:36.343 --> 05:39.024 should be supported in their recovery efforts 05:39.024 --> 05:42.137 in order to regain peace and stability. 05:42.137 --> 05:43.646 And although at that point 05:43.646 --> 05:45.874 the world still knew nothing else 05:45.874 --> 05:50.041 but the memories of a cruel war launched by Germany 05:50.698 --> 05:54.435 and the destruction of the cultural heritage, 05:54.435 --> 05:56.518 the Shoah, the Holocaust, 05:56.855 --> 05:58.963 still George C. Marshall believed 05:58.963 --> 06:01.705 in a global responsibility of his country. 06:01.705 --> 06:04.788 And he was convinced that, long-term, 06:04.941 --> 06:07.702 it would be in everybody's benefit 06:07.702 --> 06:10.593 and it would be in the interests of the United States 06:10.593 --> 06:13.010 to reach out to the defeated, 06:13.417 --> 06:17.315 to bring them back into the community of nations, 06:17.315 --> 06:19.315 and to give people hope. 06:20.299 --> 06:24.382 The 5th of June 1947 is therefore a historic date 06:25.549 --> 06:28.223 for my country, but also for Europe 06:28.223 --> 06:32.312 and for our trans-Atlantic friendship and partnership. 06:32.312 --> 06:36.145 Today, when we celebrate the 70th anniversary, 06:36.632 --> 06:38.912 we are celebrating George C. Marshall 06:38.912 --> 06:41.295 as a great American visionary 06:41.295 --> 06:45.086 who received the Nobel Peace Prize for a very good reason. 06:45.086 --> 06:48.265 And we are also celebrating the United States of America, 06:48.265 --> 06:49.619 because, back then, 06:49.619 --> 06:52.702 by implementing generous, courageous, 06:53.012 --> 06:54.830 and sustainable measures, 06:54.830 --> 06:56.409 the United States back then 06:56.409 --> 06:59.079 demonstrated greatness and foresight. 06:59.079 --> 07:02.192 And Germans and Europeans will forever be grateful 07:02.192 --> 07:04.525 to the United States for it. 07:05.605 --> 07:08.605 Today we are looking back to decades 07:08.704 --> 07:12.704 of peace and stability and prosperity in Europe. 07:14.730 --> 07:18.480 The foundation was laid by the Marshall Plan. 07:18.636 --> 07:21.969 Marshall delegated to us, the Europeans, 07:22.262 --> 07:25.679 the responsibility for these investments. 07:26.615 --> 07:30.782 The United States limited itself to a supporting role. 07:32.254 --> 07:34.921 And by doing so, by trusting us, 07:35.556 --> 07:38.723 the Europeans who just a few years ago 07:39.131 --> 07:40.762 had been mortal enemies, 07:40.762 --> 07:43.679 by trusting us with responsibility, 07:44.029 --> 07:47.196 this idea of a close European linkage, 07:50.480 --> 07:53.730 a close European bond, became tangible. 07:54.795 --> 07:58.183 The European idea has many mothers and fathers 07:58.183 --> 08:00.350 from many European states. 08:00.393 --> 08:03.310 For example, in March we celebrated 08:03.841 --> 08:07.246 the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. 08:07.246 --> 08:09.413 But one thing is for sure. 08:09.906 --> 08:12.403 Without the vision of the Marshall Plan, 08:12.403 --> 08:14.538 and without the willingness 08:14.538 --> 08:18.100 and the will of the United States after the war 08:18.100 --> 08:21.767 not to withdraw, but to be there for Europe, 08:23.025 --> 08:24.692 to engage in Europe, 08:24.916 --> 08:27.996 without this vision, European integration 08:27.996 --> 08:30.948 would not have been successful in the way it was. 08:30.948 --> 08:32.846 The Marshall Plan is the centerpiece 08:32.846 --> 08:37.013 of our common German-American and European-American history. 08:37.388 --> 08:40.888 And it is the foundation for our enduring, 08:41.752 --> 08:45.085 decades-long friendship and partnership. 08:45.988 --> 08:50.155 George C. Marshall, also looking back at his time, 08:50.350 --> 08:53.304 he tells us a lot for how to orient ourselves 08:53.304 --> 08:54.721 in today's world. 08:57.303 --> 09:01.386 Simply to cooperate, to invest into partnerships, 09:01.988 --> 09:03.589 that really pays off, 09:03.589 --> 09:07.589 be it within NATO, but also on a bilateral basis 09:08.350 --> 09:10.650 in the German-American friendship. 09:10.650 --> 09:14.693 And the trans-Atlantic partnership is a bedrock commitment. 09:14.693 --> 09:18.567 Together, we strengthen our liberal Western world order. 09:18.567 --> 09:22.734 Together, we stand for democracy, freedom, and human rights. 09:22.865 --> 09:24.532 We trust each other. 09:25.119 --> 09:26.702 We know each other. 09:27.215 --> 09:29.048 We support each other. 09:30.292 --> 09:33.201 And Germany, therefore, has a vital interest 09:33.201 --> 09:37.096 in a strong and reliable partnership with the United States. 09:37.096 --> 09:40.013 And the world needs a United States 09:40.117 --> 09:43.200 that will continue with its strength. 09:47.855 --> 09:52.004 But on the other hand we also want to strengthen our forces 09:52.004 --> 09:55.652 and to be reliable partners for the United States. 09:55.652 --> 09:58.438 We stand side by side in our shared beliefs. 09:58.438 --> 10:01.407 For example, in protecting our partners in the east 10:01.407 --> 10:03.795 by the enhanced forward presence 10:03.795 --> 10:05.864 in the Baltic states and in Poland. 10:05.864 --> 10:10.031 Or when it comes to jointly fighting against ISIS. 10:10.300 --> 10:13.217 Or when cooperating in Afghanistan, 10:14.286 --> 10:16.714 our cooperation in the past 15 years. 10:16.714 --> 10:19.714 All these topics have been discussed 10:21.276 --> 10:23.443 in our strategic dialogue. 10:23.934 --> 10:27.684 But Germany will always stand by its partners 10:28.864 --> 10:30.807 and will be a reliable partner 10:30.807 --> 10:33.557 and will fulfill its commitments. 10:33.784 --> 10:37.106 We Germans are very happy for the American engagement 10:37.106 --> 10:38.855 and commitment here in Europe. 10:38.855 --> 10:42.188 And we, the German people, appreciate it 10:42.307 --> 10:46.463 that the united troops are still stationed here in Germany. 10:46.463 --> 10:50.502 It is this experience that has brought us together. 10:50.502 --> 10:54.669 And in Bavaria, I can see how close the relationships are 10:56.109 --> 10:58.977 between the Bavarian people, the German people, 10:58.977 --> 11:00.660 and the American troops. 11:00.660 --> 11:02.401 And there are many friendships 11:02.401 --> 11:05.484 that witness this close relationship. 11:08.215 --> 11:11.212 But we also understand that, being partners, 11:11.212 --> 11:15.379 we need to have a fair burden sharing within NATO. 11:15.432 --> 11:19.188 That means we Germans need to do more for our security. 11:19.188 --> 11:21.795 And therefore we acknowledge the commitments 11:21.795 --> 11:23.962 based on Warsaw and Wales. 11:24.274 --> 11:26.437 And when it comes to defense expenditures, 11:26.437 --> 11:30.354 then we are working towards 2% of the GDP. 11:30.844 --> 11:32.346 This is in our own interest. 11:32.346 --> 11:35.341 It's in our own interest to equip the Bundeswehr, 11:35.341 --> 11:37.903 to make sure that our service members 11:37.903 --> 11:40.899 are equipped accordingly in order to make sure 11:40.899 --> 11:42.704 that they can fulfill their missions, 11:42.704 --> 11:45.121 because, after all, we expect 11:45.366 --> 11:49.106 that they fulfill their missions and do the job well. 11:49.106 --> 11:51.992 It is also in our European interest 11:51.992 --> 11:55.242 to work towards European defense union, 11:55.447 --> 11:57.352 to strengthen the European pillar. 11:57.352 --> 11:59.720 We want to stay trans-Atlantic. 11:59.720 --> 12:02.137 We want to reliable partners. 12:02.199 --> 12:04.949 And we want to grow as Europeans. 12:05.500 --> 12:09.667 The Europe Defense Union is something that we work towards. 12:10.023 --> 12:12.664 And it will be able to take on more of the burden 12:12.664 --> 12:15.374 of our common trans-Atlantic security. 12:15.374 --> 12:18.691 Not in competition to NATO, but as an addition. 12:18.691 --> 12:20.358 As a strong partner. 12:20.990 --> 12:25.157 Europe has a vital interest in a stable neighborhood. 12:25.176 --> 12:26.843 But if we want that, 12:26.872 --> 12:29.392 if we want to have stability in the neighboring regions, 12:29.392 --> 12:32.097 then we have to commit ourselves to it. 12:32.097 --> 12:36.264 And this is completely in the spirit of George C. Marshall, 12:36.413 --> 12:39.039 which means we have to take on responsibility, 12:39.039 --> 12:41.622 and we have to act accordingly. 12:41.934 --> 12:45.017 As Europeans, we know from experience 12:45.572 --> 12:49.739 what you need and what is necessary for enduring peace. 12:50.596 --> 12:54.513 What you need is to be able to fight terrorism. 12:56.613 --> 12:58.246 You need a strong police. 12:58.246 --> 12:59.931 You need a strong military 12:59.931 --> 13:04.098 in order to put a stop to adversaries of democracy. 13:05.102 --> 13:07.019 You need reconciliation 13:07.311 --> 13:10.394 to facilitate the spirit of humanity. 13:10.435 --> 13:12.906 And you need investment so people have work 13:12.906 --> 13:15.489 and can support their families. 13:17.007 --> 13:20.007 You also need political visionaries. 13:20.700 --> 13:22.104 You need a strategy. 13:22.104 --> 13:24.187 You need clear-cut goals. 13:24.268 --> 13:26.601 And you need the rule of law 13:27.067 --> 13:29.817 as a guardianship for everything. 13:30.423 --> 13:32.962 Europe does have the instruments for it, 13:32.962 --> 13:34.547 but it needs to do much more 13:34.547 --> 13:38.714 in order to pool its resources and to become active. 13:38.972 --> 13:41.010 And I think it's time to act. 13:41.010 --> 13:43.510 And this is what we are doing. 13:43.904 --> 13:47.891 The European Council said very clearly last week 13:47.891 --> 13:49.281 what is being necessary. 13:49.281 --> 13:51.469 And I hope that, until the end of the year, 13:51.469 --> 13:54.114 we will have very concrete results. 13:54.114 --> 13:56.614 More common planning with NATO 13:57.128 --> 14:00.128 in order to expand our capabilities. 14:00.753 --> 14:04.264 More common investments and joint investments 14:04.264 --> 14:08.431 in order to help grow and help support the European pillar 14:09.962 --> 14:13.705 to bring civilian and military elements together 14:13.705 --> 14:14.991 in an appropriate way. 14:14.991 --> 14:17.279 And much more has to be done. 14:17.279 --> 14:21.011 As Europeans, we have to take on responsibility. 14:21.011 --> 14:23.827 It's important that defense and stability 14:23.827 --> 14:27.327 is being based on the trans-Atlantic bond. 14:27.455 --> 14:31.423 After all, this bond has supported and has brought 14:31.423 --> 14:34.590 peace and stability and common values. 14:35.257 --> 14:39.175 But as Europeans we do want to take on more responsibility, 14:39.175 --> 14:43.342 but without ever forgetting where we have come from. 14:44.014 --> 14:48.181 That is why, dear Jim, I'm happy to have you as a colleague. 14:48.670 --> 14:51.914 You and I can talk openly and clearly with each other. 14:51.914 --> 14:55.331 There's a broad spectrum of common topics 14:55.336 --> 14:57.098 that we're discussing. 14:57.098 --> 14:59.265 And that is why we decided 15:00.148 --> 15:04.315 to solidify our cooperation beyond current issues. 15:06.625 --> 15:10.525 And that is why today we inaugurated, today we started, 15:10.525 --> 15:13.721 the German-American strategic dialogue. 15:13.721 --> 15:17.304 And I think this is in a special atmosphere 15:17.978 --> 15:19.750 to inaugurate this dialogue. 15:19.750 --> 15:23.500 And I think it's the right place to start it. 15:24.416 --> 15:26.656 And that is why now I would like 15:26.656 --> 15:29.970 to say a few words to you, General Dayton. 15:29.970 --> 15:34.137 The George C. Marshall Center is exactly the right place 15:36.101 --> 15:40.268 for launching and supporting our strategic dialogue 15:40.789 --> 15:44.539 and deepening our trans-Atlantic partnership. 15:44.664 --> 15:48.664 This center embodies a deep trans-Atlantic bond. 15:49.560 --> 15:53.143 And it does so in an especially lively way. 15:53.289 --> 15:55.789 And it is in the spirit of its name-giver 15:55.789 --> 15:57.701 that also international partners 15:57.701 --> 16:01.543 outside the North Atlantic Treaty are being engaged, 16:01.543 --> 16:05.226 are being included into the security-political discussions. 16:05.226 --> 16:07.976 We have just welcomed our guests, 16:09.376 --> 16:13.279 and the geographic range is from Morocco to Mongolia. 16:13.279 --> 16:17.446 People from 143 nations have come to the Marshall Center. 16:18.168 --> 16:21.441 And more than 12,000 civilians and military 16:21.441 --> 16:23.712 have participated in courses 16:23.712 --> 16:26.227 of the George C. Marshall Center. 16:26.227 --> 16:30.394 So it is a smart, long-term, and sustainable investment 16:30.872 --> 16:33.539 in security and peace worldwide. 16:35.395 --> 16:39.562 Therefore, this very unique common joint institution 16:41.097 --> 16:43.264 is so near and dear to us. 16:45.131 --> 16:46.599 And I'm very happy 16:46.599 --> 16:50.232 that the Germans have now increased their financial support. 16:50.232 --> 16:53.565 And also there is more German staff here 16:55.004 --> 16:56.316 at the Marshall Center. 16:56.316 --> 16:59.179 And this is to show, to emphasize the relevance 16:59.179 --> 17:03.230 of the very valuable work here at the Marshall Center. 17:03.230 --> 17:04.897 Sir, General Dayton, 17:04.982 --> 17:08.385 cherishing the trans-Atlantic partnership 17:08.385 --> 17:11.566 and supporting its values and fundamentals 17:11.566 --> 17:14.680 also outside the borders of our alliance, 17:14.680 --> 17:17.263 this is what you and your staff 17:17.373 --> 17:19.790 are working toward every day. 17:21.211 --> 17:24.523 And you are doing this with great dedication 17:24.523 --> 17:26.606 and with lasting success. 17:27.738 --> 17:30.365 The Marshall Center, your center, 17:30.365 --> 17:33.865 is a beacon of German-American friendship. 17:33.969 --> 17:35.931 And this friendship is being lived here, 17:35.931 --> 17:37.848 and we can all feel it. 17:39.146 --> 17:43.313 Dear General Dayton, for your incredible dedication 17:43.990 --> 17:47.858 and commitment to support the German-American partnership 17:47.858 --> 17:51.223 and for our trans-Atlantic values worldwide, 17:51.223 --> 17:54.349 I would like to thank you with all my heart. 17:54.349 --> 17:58.516 And, as a visible sign of our gratitude and appreciation, 18:00.546 --> 18:03.046 I would like to present to you 18:04.046 --> 18:07.796 the Cross of Honor of the Bundeswehr in Gold. 18:08.841 --> 18:11.217 Now, that might be a surprise to you. 18:11.217 --> 18:13.800 But it comes from all my heart. 18:14.334 --> 18:15.822 And that is why, General Dayton, 18:15.822 --> 18:19.580 I would like you to please join me here on stage. 18:19.580 --> 18:22.580 (audience applauds) 18:43.639 --> 18:46.108 (speaking in foreign language) 18:46.108 --> 18:48.865 - [Translator] On behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany, 18:48.865 --> 18:53.032 I would like to present Lieutenant General Keith Dayton 18:56.259 --> 18:59.676 for his honorable and meritorious service 19:01.089 --> 19:03.747 to the Federal Republic of Germany 19:03.747 --> 19:07.497 the Cross of Honor of the Bundeswehr in Gold. 19:20.495 --> 19:23.495 (audience applauds) 19:50.218 --> 19:52.043 - Jim, I don't know how you follow that. 19:52.043 --> 19:54.281 (audience laughs) 19:54.281 --> 19:58.364 But it is my deep personal honor to first of all, 19:58.613 --> 19:59.770 Minister, thank you very much. 19:59.770 --> 20:00.937 I had no idea. 20:01.348 --> 20:05.515 And this is an honor that is far beyond my worthiness. 20:05.672 --> 20:07.922 But that's for another day. 20:09.127 --> 20:11.600 It's my great honor to introduce 20:11.600 --> 20:13.312 the 26th Secretary of Defense 20:13.312 --> 20:16.979 of the United States of America, Jim Mattis. 20:17.653 --> 20:19.602 He is a personal friend. 20:19.602 --> 20:21.685 But he is a great leader. 20:22.097 --> 20:23.514 And he is exactly 20:23.906 --> 20:26.769 what I believe my country needs at this time. 20:26.769 --> 20:29.531 I think my president chose extremely well 20:29.531 --> 20:31.465 when he picked Secretary Mattis. 20:31.465 --> 20:33.249 And Jim, the floor is yours. 20:33.249 --> 20:35.320 Please come up here and talk to these people. 20:35.320 --> 20:38.320 (audience applauds) 20:48.821 --> 20:51.321 - Thank you Kieth, old friend, 20:51.334 --> 20:53.251 Minister von der Leyen. 20:53.446 --> 20:54.778 There is probably no one 20:54.778 --> 20:57.700 that I would rather be here today with 20:57.700 --> 21:00.450 than my esteemed fellow minister, 21:01.550 --> 21:03.494 the first minister to call on me 21:03.494 --> 21:07.472 after I had the surprise of being assigned to this job, 21:07.472 --> 21:08.472 I might add. 21:08.573 --> 21:12.120 Thank you again for making the trip to Washington. 21:12.120 --> 21:16.287 But I would also say that there's a connection between us. 21:17.304 --> 21:21.359 We did not sit down and write our speeches together. 21:21.359 --> 21:24.463 Yet as I was listening to her and nodding to myself, 21:24.463 --> 21:26.514 I thought, my gosh, I'm going to bore everybody 21:26.514 --> 21:28.929 with the same themes that you just heard. 21:28.929 --> 21:33.096 But, Madame Mayor, thank you for all of the hospitality 21:33.430 --> 21:34.824 that all of us receive 21:34.824 --> 21:38.298 when we come to this beautiful corner of the world. 21:38.298 --> 21:41.221 It is absolutely a stunning place to visit. 21:41.221 --> 21:42.171 And ladies and gentlemen, 21:42.171 --> 21:46.171 it is wonderful to be back in Germany once again 21:47.238 --> 21:51.405 to pay my respects to an ally that is 100% committed 21:51.605 --> 21:54.263 to freedom and the dignity of human beings 21:54.263 --> 21:58.321 and to show America's solidarity with the German people 21:58.321 --> 22:00.525 in standing up for Western values 22:00.525 --> 22:02.998 for which we are unapologetic. 22:02.998 --> 22:04.810 I cannot come to Germany, however, 22:04.810 --> 22:06.823 without expressing my deep respect 22:06.823 --> 22:08.990 for this country's troops. 22:09.061 --> 22:11.658 For their professionalism, for their courage, 22:11.658 --> 22:14.244 and for their sacrifices on shared battlefields 22:14.244 --> 22:16.827 in Afghanistan and against ISIS 22:17.306 --> 22:19.606 or any other agents of terror 22:19.606 --> 22:21.079 and all around the world. 22:21.079 --> 22:22.811 Because, for the German military 22:22.811 --> 22:25.808 and for you here today from the German military, 22:25.808 --> 22:29.413 I would just say that your ethical performance 22:29.413 --> 22:31.580 is a model for all others. 22:31.778 --> 22:33.830 And we in the United States Department of Defense 22:33.830 --> 22:36.061 are grateful for our strong alliance 22:36.061 --> 22:38.144 with the German military. 22:38.716 --> 22:41.162 Minister von der Leyen and I just completed 22:41.162 --> 22:44.562 the inaugural strategic dialogue as you heard. 22:44.562 --> 22:46.329 And between Germany and the United States, 22:46.329 --> 22:48.662 we charted our shared security priorities 22:48.662 --> 22:52.265 for the coming year in this perfect locale for that 22:52.265 --> 22:56.432 in the finest spirit of what George Marshall stood for. 22:56.842 --> 22:58.536 We talked about Afghanistan, 22:58.536 --> 23:01.324 the enhanced forward presence in eastern Europe, 23:01.324 --> 23:03.854 and our national security strategies. 23:03.854 --> 23:05.273 And I would just cite that, 23:05.273 --> 23:09.190 regardless of any news reports to the contrary, 23:09.289 --> 23:10.815 the trans-Atlantic bond 23:10.815 --> 23:14.209 between our two countries remains strong. 23:14.209 --> 23:16.614 Germany and the United States stand together 23:16.614 --> 23:19.562 allied against threats to the peace and security 23:19.562 --> 23:22.503 of this continent, Canada, and the United States 23:22.503 --> 23:25.586 and disruptions of harmony elsewhere. 23:25.947 --> 23:28.906 The U.S. commitment to our NATO Article Five 23:28.906 --> 23:31.489 security guarantee is ironclad, 23:32.820 --> 23:36.223 as demonstrated over decades, our steadfastness, 23:36.223 --> 23:39.700 and given voice more recently by President Trump 23:39.700 --> 23:42.539 before the American people in the Rose Garden 23:42.539 --> 23:46.142 with a NATO ally, Romanian President Iohannis, 23:46.142 --> 23:47.892 standing at his side. 23:47.972 --> 23:52.070 And certainly it was given voice by the United States Senate 23:52.070 --> 23:56.237 just a short couple of days ago in a unanimous resolution, 23:56.694 --> 23:57.694 100 to zero. 23:59.037 --> 24:00.907 All of this trans-Atlantic bond 24:00.907 --> 24:04.157 is represented in this room here today. 24:04.288 --> 24:07.931 And 70 years ago, as Minister von der Leyen noted, 24:07.931 --> 24:10.894 on a picturesque campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 24:10.894 --> 24:13.744 an American diplomat gave the commencement address 24:13.744 --> 24:15.577 at Harvard University. 24:15.963 --> 24:17.987 I need not remind this audience again 24:17.987 --> 24:20.085 of what George Marshall said that day, 24:20.085 --> 24:22.918 for we can see today across Europe 24:22.942 --> 24:26.859 the realization of what became a shared vision, 24:27.130 --> 24:30.930 a peaceful, industrious, and prosperous continent, 24:30.930 --> 24:34.317 free from tyranny, possessing the military strength 24:34.317 --> 24:37.067 to defend itself from aggression. 24:37.232 --> 24:38.607 And sometimes it is necessary 24:38.607 --> 24:41.556 to pause and recall first principles. 24:41.556 --> 24:43.841 We can get, kind of take things for granted 24:43.841 --> 24:45.853 after a while if we do not. 24:45.853 --> 24:47.287 We need to remind ourselves 24:47.287 --> 24:50.537 of why we initially embarked on a path, 24:50.543 --> 24:54.609 of why free people of Europe, Canada, and the United States 24:54.609 --> 24:56.657 made a conscious decision 24:56.657 --> 24:59.654 to codify our trans-Atlantic partnership 24:59.654 --> 25:02.904 and dared to bind our nations by treaty 25:02.917 --> 25:04.750 to collective defense. 25:05.063 --> 25:07.530 All free nations, democracies, 25:07.530 --> 25:10.009 any one of them could have opted out 25:10.009 --> 25:12.003 with the wish of avoiding danger, 25:12.003 --> 25:14.086 yet they united together. 25:14.503 --> 25:16.681 In the North Atlantic Treaty Article Five, 25:16.681 --> 25:18.881 the parties stated that they agree 25:18.881 --> 25:21.154 that an armed attack against one or more of them 25:21.154 --> 25:23.132 in Europe or North America 25:23.132 --> 25:26.632 shall be considered an attack against all. 25:27.229 --> 25:29.402 And in North Atlantic Treaty Article Three, 25:29.402 --> 25:33.107 we bound ourselves to share the burden of defense, 25:33.107 --> 25:35.843 saying that parties separately and jointly 25:35.843 --> 25:38.145 by means of continuous and effective 25:38.145 --> 25:40.145 self-help and mutual aid 25:40.455 --> 25:44.455 will maintain individual and collective capacity 25:44.866 --> 25:46.783 to resist armed attack. 25:47.292 --> 25:50.606 So ladies and gentlemen, how did a man named George Marshall 25:50.606 --> 25:53.681 come to give a speech that so eloquently articulated 25:53.681 --> 25:57.848 the principles underpinning today's international order? 26:00.650 --> 26:03.287 Why does the international center here today 26:03.287 --> 26:06.114 bear his name still 70 years later? 26:06.114 --> 26:07.427 And the simple answer is 26:07.427 --> 26:10.594 that he lived at the hinge of history. 26:11.081 --> 26:12.673 Having joined the Army, 26:12.673 --> 26:14.514 George Marshall was sent off to fight 26:14.514 --> 26:17.628 in a catastrophic conflict, World War I, 26:17.628 --> 26:20.021 in which 1.2 million doughboys 26:20.021 --> 26:23.354 came to pay America's debt to Lafayette. 26:23.673 --> 26:27.673 He lived war and he lived all of its injustices. 26:28.698 --> 26:31.082 When the armistice came, Marshall went home to America 26:31.082 --> 26:32.737 and lived through the Great Depression, 26:32.737 --> 26:36.013 seeing grown men and women with despair in their eyes. 26:36.013 --> 26:39.177 For 20 years, he learned and he matured 26:39.177 --> 26:41.362 watching the storm clouds gather again 26:41.362 --> 26:44.246 over the continent he had left behind. 26:44.246 --> 26:46.621 When the storm broke in 1939, 26:46.621 --> 26:49.788 he witnessed the failed peace of 1918. 26:49.940 --> 26:54.107 14% of Europe's pre-war population was killed or displaced 26:55.316 --> 26:57.649 during the Second World War. 26:57.679 --> 26:59.591 Our nations experienced the horrors 26:59.591 --> 27:03.064 that can only happen when freedom is imperiled, 27:03.064 --> 27:07.231 when peaceful pursuits of civilized life are suspended, 27:07.529 --> 27:09.362 when deterrence fails, 27:09.486 --> 27:13.098 and our societies are engulfed in total war. 27:13.098 --> 27:16.026 When, at enormous cost, the force of arms 27:16.026 --> 27:18.627 had restored peace to this continent, 27:18.627 --> 27:22.794 the peoples of our nations gauged on that destruction. 27:23.125 --> 27:27.061 And the U.S. Secretary of State to be, George Schultz, 27:27.061 --> 27:29.762 not yet the secretary, but coming home a young officer 27:29.762 --> 27:33.929 who had served in our World War II Pacific campaign, 27:33.954 --> 27:36.612 he spoke for a generation when he said 27:36.612 --> 27:38.844 that they looked back on world wars, 27:38.844 --> 27:42.761 a generation that saw 61 million people killed, 27:43.351 --> 27:45.114 that saw the Depression, 27:45.114 --> 27:46.669 and they said to themselves, 27:46.669 --> 27:48.419 "What a crummy world. 27:48.655 --> 27:52.048 "And we're part of it whether we like it or not." 27:52.048 --> 27:54.140 Longing for a safer future, 27:54.140 --> 27:56.156 the Greatest Generation, as we call them, 27:56.156 --> 27:59.857 saw their own security in the security of others. 27:59.857 --> 28:02.920 They had the courage to recognize all collective efforts 28:02.920 --> 28:06.430 had to be taken to avoid repeating the mistakes 28:06.430 --> 28:08.763 that opened the door to war. 28:09.191 --> 28:12.772 And should freedom be threatened and war truly unavoidable, 28:12.772 --> 28:14.609 then all efforts had to be taken 28:14.609 --> 28:18.776 to bring war to a decisive end as swiftly as possible. 28:19.614 --> 28:21.497 They also had the courage to act. 28:21.497 --> 28:24.752 Not just to look at it, not just to talk about it. 28:24.752 --> 28:26.962 To make the necessary sacrifices 28:26.962 --> 28:30.580 and to make genuine commitments to keep the peace. 28:30.580 --> 28:33.910 That generation, schooled by life's cruelties, 28:33.910 --> 28:36.119 by severe economic deprivation 28:36.119 --> 28:39.071 and the death of friends and family members, 28:39.071 --> 28:40.343 stood face to face 28:40.343 --> 28:43.926 with the competitive zero-sum side of life. 28:44.535 --> 28:47.716 The vileness of the Second World War waged on a scale 28:47.716 --> 28:51.142 unimagined perhaps other than by those with memories 28:51.142 --> 28:52.872 of having lived through it, 28:52.872 --> 28:55.241 nevertheless left a generation aware 28:55.241 --> 28:59.408 that this is more to life than war and competition alone. 28:59.784 --> 29:02.201 In 1947, Europe lay in ruins. 29:03.566 --> 29:06.333 Starvation, poverty, desperation, and chaos 29:06.333 --> 29:08.812 clamored to dictate the future. 29:08.812 --> 29:11.916 And enter Marshall, who saw his generation's moment 29:11.916 --> 29:14.249 and transcribed its lessons. 29:14.766 --> 29:17.304 It is logical, he said, that the United States 29:17.304 --> 29:20.211 should do whatever it is able to do 29:20.211 --> 29:23.069 to assist in the return of normal economic health 29:23.069 --> 29:24.152 in the world, 29:24.843 --> 29:27.783 without which there can be no political stability 29:27.783 --> 29:29.533 and no assured peace. 29:29.824 --> 29:31.138 Under the Marshall Plan, 29:31.138 --> 29:34.002 the United States provided billions in aid to Europe 29:34.002 --> 29:36.434 after the war as part of a larger effort 29:36.434 --> 29:39.159 to rebuild and secure the continent. 29:39.159 --> 29:42.464 Marshall knew history swings on a hinge. 29:42.464 --> 29:43.422 And the Marshall Plan 29:43.422 --> 29:47.106 permitted hundreds of millions to keep their humanity, 29:47.106 --> 29:49.900 confident of the basic social order, 29:49.900 --> 29:52.482 from food to security, rule of law, 29:52.482 --> 29:55.149 and essential political freedom. 29:55.500 --> 29:58.001 20 years after the plan took effect, 29:58.001 --> 30:00.201 the per capita gross domestic product 30:00.201 --> 30:02.696 of UK, France, Italy, and Germany 30:02.696 --> 30:04.529 had more than doubled. 30:04.735 --> 30:07.546 But to keep the peace, a resuscitated Europe 30:07.546 --> 30:10.952 had to become a partner in it, as Marshall said, 30:10.952 --> 30:14.455 and as Minister von der Leyen just pointed out. 30:14.455 --> 30:17.881 It is neither fitting nor efficacious, he said, 30:17.881 --> 30:20.446 for the U.S. government to draw up unilaterally 30:20.446 --> 30:24.205 a program to place Europe on its feet economically. 30:24.205 --> 30:26.889 This is the business of the Europeans. 30:26.889 --> 30:29.972 The initiative must come from Europe. 30:30.765 --> 30:34.932 As Marshall told the UN General Assembly in Paris in 1948, 30:35.433 --> 30:38.385 international organizations cannot take the place 30:38.385 --> 30:40.968 of national and personal effort 30:41.184 --> 30:44.374 or of local and individual imagination. 30:44.374 --> 30:48.207 International action cannot replace self-help. 30:49.296 --> 30:53.062 And so, out of destruction, and unified by that notion, 30:53.062 --> 30:56.060 our peoples built a great new world, 30:56.060 --> 30:59.004 the Bretton Woods institutions, the IMF and World Bank, 30:59.004 --> 31:00.487 the United Nations, 31:00.487 --> 31:03.092 the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. 31:03.092 --> 31:05.373 Marshall's generation built these tools 31:05.373 --> 31:09.040 to help underwrite stability and prosperity. 31:10.047 --> 31:12.164 The last 70 years have proven the value 31:12.164 --> 31:16.331 of these institutions and the wisdom of that generation. 31:16.492 --> 31:19.083 Europe transformed from a security consumer 31:19.083 --> 31:21.166 into a security provider, 31:21.680 --> 31:24.102 something Marshall ardently desired, 31:24.102 --> 31:25.940 for he never envisioned 31:25.940 --> 31:28.640 that America would carry the burden alone. 31:28.640 --> 31:31.683 He knew from experience it had to be shared, 31:31.683 --> 31:34.516 both its benefits and its burdens. 31:34.709 --> 31:38.876 Since World War II, European allies have contributed 31:39.618 --> 31:42.935 to large-scale U.S.-led global operations. 31:42.935 --> 31:44.261 At peak contributions, 31:44.261 --> 31:48.385 39,000 allies fought with the United States in Afghanistan. 31:48.385 --> 31:51.802 And 59,000 allies fought with us in Iraq. 31:52.181 --> 31:55.168 We must not allow the years passed since 1947 31:55.168 --> 31:58.168 to blind us to the reality of today. 31:58.435 --> 32:01.166 For those of us who grew up with freedom from fear, 32:01.166 --> 32:03.995 from starvation and the burden of world war, 32:03.995 --> 32:06.449 we cannot turn away from the responsibility 32:06.449 --> 32:10.616 to pass these same freedoms intact to the next generation. 32:11.506 --> 32:15.583 Allies stick together as we did 69 years ago this week, 32:15.583 --> 32:18.295 when the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin 32:18.295 --> 32:21.846 and the United States refused to abandon it. 32:21.846 --> 32:25.942 U.S. Air Force Captain Billy Phelps flew 167 flights 32:25.942 --> 32:27.822 into that stranded city, 32:27.822 --> 32:30.315 bringing food and coal to save its inhabitants 32:30.315 --> 32:32.982 from starvation and bitter cold. 32:33.137 --> 32:35.258 Captain Phelps was 26 years old 32:35.258 --> 32:37.685 the night his cargo plane crashed 32:37.685 --> 32:39.970 a mile from the end of the runway. 32:39.970 --> 32:44.053 A German boy named Wolfgang Samuel saw it happen. 32:44.169 --> 32:47.319 Wolf wrote, "They fell like a rock out of the sky. 32:47.319 --> 32:49.473 "The two pilots were killed." 32:49.473 --> 32:52.973 And then the child had a flash of insight. 32:54.224 --> 32:56.193 He said, "Only three years ago, 32:56.193 --> 32:58.145 "they were fighting against my country. 32:58.145 --> 32:59.892 "And now they were dying for us. 32:59.892 --> 33:01.725 "I wondered," he said, 33:01.787 --> 33:05.787 "what made these people do the things they did." 33:05.888 --> 33:08.441 Captain Phelps knew he owed future generations 33:08.441 --> 33:10.441 the same freedom he had. 33:10.478 --> 33:12.740 And what young Wolfgang, a little German kid, 33:12.740 --> 33:15.823 saw that cold December night in 1948, 33:16.287 --> 33:19.037 we can see clearly today in 2017. 33:20.358 --> 33:21.578 We can see foreigners 33:21.578 --> 33:24.206 putting their lives on the line for others, 33:24.206 --> 33:26.708 whether Captain Billy Phelps of the Berlin Airlift 33:26.708 --> 33:29.761 or the men and women of NATO's enhanced forward presence 33:29.761 --> 33:33.928 under German leadership in the Lithuanian woods right now. 33:34.171 --> 33:37.419 We can see U.S. support for NATO's forward presence 33:37.419 --> 33:41.586 extended out to 2020 for the security of the United States 33:41.890 --> 33:43.640 and all NATO nations. 33:43.802 --> 33:47.707 We can see the $4.8 billion requested by President Trump 33:47.707 --> 33:51.523 last month for the European Reassurance Initiative, 33:51.523 --> 33:54.589 an increase over our commitment last year. 33:54.589 --> 33:56.974 Beyond any words in the newspapers, 33:56.974 --> 34:00.018 you can judge America by such actions. 34:00.018 --> 34:01.601 This is who we are. 34:01.643 --> 34:04.560 America, Germany, Europe, the West. 34:05.364 --> 34:09.197 Why we risk life so a child in Berlin can eat, 34:10.450 --> 34:12.055 we hunt terrorists in the dark 34:12.055 --> 34:15.190 so that they cannot murder innocents at concerts, 34:15.190 --> 34:17.013 and our nations stand together, 34:17.013 --> 34:19.371 democratic islands of stability 34:19.371 --> 34:21.788 in a world awash with change. 34:22.111 --> 34:25.543 The Marshall Center embodies this cooperative mission. 34:25.543 --> 34:26.573 It is the only one 34:26.573 --> 34:29.774 of the U.S. Defense Department's five regional centers 34:29.774 --> 34:33.005 to operate jointly with a foreign government. 34:33.005 --> 34:35.831 It is one of many tangible manifestations 34:35.831 --> 34:39.998 of the enduring alliance between Germany and America. 34:40.122 --> 34:42.387 In October last year, Germany and the United States 34:42.387 --> 34:44.189 signed a memorandum of agreement 34:44.189 --> 34:47.760 and reinforced a strong U.S.-German partnership here 34:47.760 --> 34:51.084 as Germany assumed an even greater role in the operation 34:51.084 --> 34:55.251 of this highly influential security studies center. 34:55.297 --> 34:56.806 As the minister noted, 34:56.806 --> 34:59.392 over the years, over 12,000 individuals, 34:59.392 --> 35:01.197 civilian and military, 35:01.197 --> 35:04.399 from more than 150 countries have come to Garmisch 35:04.399 --> 35:06.935 to transcribe the lessons of history 35:06.935 --> 35:09.445 and apply them to today's challenges, 35:09.445 --> 35:11.661 from organized crime to terrorism, 35:11.661 --> 35:14.504 cyber security and regional threats. 35:14.504 --> 35:16.825 Marshall Center alumni comprise a network 35:16.825 --> 35:19.297 of thought leaders and practitioners 35:19.297 --> 35:21.926 serving as resources to one another 35:21.926 --> 35:23.844 and decision makers worldwide, 35:23.844 --> 35:26.266 recognizing that no nation alone 35:26.266 --> 35:28.634 can provide for its security. 35:28.634 --> 35:30.384 In 2014, for example, 35:30.686 --> 35:33.686 Romanian and Greek alumni contributed together 35:33.686 --> 35:36.375 to one of Europe's largest drug seizures, 35:36.375 --> 35:39.125 preventing $220 million in heroin 35:39.380 --> 35:43.073 from poisoning children and families across this continent. 35:43.073 --> 35:44.202 Marshall Center faculty 35:44.202 --> 35:46.816 have also assisted Albania and Moldova 35:46.816 --> 35:48.154 in drafting their first ever 35:48.154 --> 35:50.641 national security strategy documents, 35:50.641 --> 35:53.254 critical for enabling security integration 35:53.254 --> 35:56.504 and contributing to regional stability. 35:56.711 --> 35:59.471 The Center's faculty, staff, students, and alumni 35:59.471 --> 36:02.645 carry the legacy of this center's namesake. 36:02.645 --> 36:04.851 And for you students here today, 36:04.851 --> 36:07.436 when you return home you have a golden opportunity 36:07.436 --> 36:09.932 to operate at history's hinge as well, 36:09.932 --> 36:12.230 just like George Marshall did. 36:12.230 --> 36:13.998 To close the door to war, 36:13.998 --> 36:15.871 exercising your moral authority 36:15.871 --> 36:20.038 and your generation's responsibility to protect freedom. 36:20.701 --> 36:24.612 Western values, respect for a rules-based order, 36:24.612 --> 36:27.962 and for national sovereignty, freedom of speech, 36:27.962 --> 36:30.893 freedom of religion, the dignity of the human person. 36:30.893 --> 36:33.411 These are values worth defending. 36:33.411 --> 36:36.994 Marshall said ideals have power to inspire. 36:37.309 --> 36:40.558 And he also said discouraged people are in sore need 36:40.558 --> 36:43.306 of the inspiration of great principles, 36:43.306 --> 36:47.308 principles represented today by you in this room. 36:47.308 --> 36:49.357 I'll conclude with a message to the nation 36:49.357 --> 36:53.507 choosing to challenge this secure and peaceful order. 36:53.507 --> 36:56.300 The United States seeks to engage with Russia. 36:56.300 --> 36:58.472 And so does the NATO alliance. 36:58.472 --> 37:01.105 But Russia must know both what we stand for 37:01.105 --> 37:03.866 and equally what we will not tolerate. 37:03.866 --> 37:05.616 We stand for freedom, 37:05.782 --> 37:08.829 and we will never surrender the freedom of our people 37:08.829 --> 37:12.692 or the values of our alliance that we hold dear. 37:12.692 --> 37:15.085 I mentioned a moment ago that discouraged people 37:15.085 --> 37:17.002 in need of inspiration, 37:17.076 --> 37:18.674 and there are millions of people like that 37:18.674 --> 37:20.605 who live today in Russia. 37:20.605 --> 37:23.476 Their leader making mischief beyond Russian borders 37:23.476 --> 37:27.643 will not restore their fortunes or rekindle their hope. 37:28.888 --> 37:31.805 And why will we meet any aggression 37:32.279 --> 37:36.446 with what Danish Defense Minister Claus Frederiksen 37:36.698 --> 37:40.698 said was determination, deterrence, and purpose. 37:41.430 --> 37:43.251 We will also watch for a Russia 37:43.251 --> 37:47.418 that honors its people enough to abide by international law 37:47.571 --> 37:51.571 and so win for them the peace that we all offer. 37:52.088 --> 37:54.963 NATO's troops are deployed right now as we speak 37:54.963 --> 37:57.748 in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. 37:57.748 --> 38:00.326 And they demonstrate NATO's resolve. 38:00.326 --> 38:02.296 I am grateful to those host nations 38:02.296 --> 38:04.004 as well as to the framework nations, 38:04.004 --> 38:07.718 Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, 38:07.718 --> 38:09.377 and of course Germany, 38:09.377 --> 38:11.310 for sending their fine troops to lead 38:11.310 --> 38:13.823 in this wholly defensive mission, 38:13.823 --> 38:17.482 augmented by troops from 10 other NATO nations. 38:17.482 --> 38:20.766 This is a profound example of a united NATO. 38:20.766 --> 38:24.343 Our alliance has long been a stabilizing force in Europe. 38:24.343 --> 38:25.254 And it helps preserve 38:25.254 --> 38:28.424 the rules-based international order today. 38:28.424 --> 38:31.242 And it serves again now to keep the peace 38:31.242 --> 38:32.709 and defend the shared values 38:32.709 --> 38:34.688 that grew out of the Enlightenment. 38:34.688 --> 38:36.387 In closing ladies and gentlemen, 38:36.387 --> 38:40.554 in 1961 a young academic and German immigrant to America, 38:42.215 --> 38:43.820 one who had served in the U.S. Army 38:43.820 --> 38:46.305 and was a veteran of World War II, 38:46.305 --> 38:48.670 paid a visit to the Missouri home 38:48.670 --> 38:51.073 of former President Harry Truman. 38:51.073 --> 38:55.148 The president was in his late 70's and long since retired. 38:55.148 --> 38:58.131 The academic was none other than Henry Kissinger. 38:58.131 --> 38:59.714 And he asked Truman 39:00.108 --> 39:04.275 what in his presidency had made him the most proud. 39:04.921 --> 39:08.983 Without a moment's hesitation, President Truman said to him 39:08.983 --> 39:11.736 that we defeated our enemies and then brought them back 39:11.736 --> 39:14.903 to the community of nations as equals. 39:15.862 --> 39:19.514 Today we make our adversaries the same promise. 39:19.514 --> 39:22.752 Enemies of freedom will be frustrated or defeated. 39:22.752 --> 39:24.975 Supporters of international law 39:24.975 --> 39:28.021 will be brought into our community as equals. 39:28.021 --> 39:31.411 Our hands rest purposely on history's door. 39:31.411 --> 39:34.289 And it depends on us to push it in the right direction. 39:34.289 --> 39:36.219 Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen. 39:36.219 --> 39:39.219 (audience applauds)