WEBVTT 00:05.335 --> 00:08.035 - Okay, we'll go to the Washington Post in the center. 00:09.944 --> 00:11.361 In the fifth row. 00:12.838 --> 00:15.325 - Hello, Michael Burnbaun from the Washington Post. 00:15.325 --> 00:19.007 I wanted to ask, President Trump tweeted in the last hour, 00:19.007 --> 00:21.290 "The US is spending many times more 00:22.225 --> 00:24.799 "than any other country in order to protect them. 00:24.799 --> 00:26.460 "Not fair to the US taxpayer. 00:26.460 --> 00:28.310 "On top of that, we lose $151 billion 00:30.238 --> 00:31.761 "on trade with the European Union. 00:31.761 --> 00:32.777 "Charge us big tariffs and barriers." 00:33.969 --> 00:36.140 What is the consequence for allied solidarity 00:36.140 --> 00:38.620 linking trade and defense in the way 00:39.507 --> 00:40.583 President Trump is doing? 00:44.433 --> 00:47.466 - It confirms that there are different views 00:47.466 --> 00:50.703 among allies on different issues. 00:52.070 --> 00:55.503 Including trade, but also climate change, 00:55.503 --> 00:58.223 the Iran nuclear deal, and other issues. 00:59.850 --> 01:03.946 I will leave, when it comes to trade, 01:03.946 --> 01:06.521 I will leave that to the European Union. 01:06.521 --> 01:08.913 When it comes to defense, that's for NATO. 01:10.183 --> 01:12.078 And when it comes to defense, 01:12.078 --> 01:14.893 my message is that we are actually now stepping up. 01:16.330 --> 01:18.090 European allies are stepping up. 01:18.090 --> 01:19.190 Canada is stepping up. 01:20.153 --> 01:22.061 And we're also doing more together 01:22.061 --> 01:25.005 North America, United States, Canada, and Europe. 01:25.005 --> 01:28.210 And I'm absolutely certain that this summit will show 01:28.210 --> 01:30.140 that we are able to deliver 01:31.390 --> 01:33.333 on security, on defense. 01:34.180 --> 01:38.263 Despite the disagreements we see on trade and other issues. 01:39.658 --> 01:41.560 And my, one of my main responsibilities 01:41.560 --> 01:45.170 is to make sure that as long as 01:45.170 --> 01:48.410 disagreements on trade remain unresolved, 01:48.410 --> 01:52.288 that we minimize the negative effects 01:52.288 --> 01:53.838 on the cooperation within NATO. 01:55.336 --> 01:57.549 We have been able to do that so far. 01:57.549 --> 01:59.199 And I'm confident that once again 02:00.251 --> 02:02.337 we'll be able to do that at the summit. 02:02.337 --> 02:04.187 Because we have a good story to tell. 02:06.771 --> 02:08.716 Yes, that burden sharing in the alliance is not fair. 02:08.716 --> 02:09.930 That's exactly why European allies 02:09.930 --> 02:11.280 and Canada are stepping up. 02:13.695 --> 02:15.930 The biggest increase in defense spending 02:15.930 --> 02:19.143 last year since the end of the Cold War. 02:20.436 --> 02:21.920 All allies have started to increase. 02:21.920 --> 02:25.500 More allies spent two percent GDP on defense. 02:25.500 --> 02:29.180 And based on the national plans we agreed last year 02:30.405 --> 02:33.016 we now estimate that the European allies and Canada 02:33.016 --> 02:38.016 will add 266 billion extra for defense spending 02:38.621 --> 02:39.621 from now until 2024. 02:40.682 --> 02:42.025 So this is significant. 02:42.025 --> 02:44.907 This is really moving in the right direction. 02:44.907 --> 02:47.970 And therefor, I am confident that it will also 02:47.970 --> 02:50.900 be reflected at the summit that we are 02:50.900 --> 02:52.400 moving in the right direction. 02:54.089 --> 02:54.922 - Sir Deutsche Sydom. 02:56.249 --> 02:58.265 - Daniel Brussels, Deutsche Sydom here. 02:58.265 --> 02:59.494 Secretary General, you said 02:59.494 --> 03:01.380 you thanked President Trump for his leadership. 03:01.380 --> 03:05.320 And you said that it is clearly having an impact 03:05.320 --> 03:07.720 on the issue of the two percent. 03:07.720 --> 03:09.170 Aren't you worried that there 03:10.210 --> 03:11.913 might be a negative impact too? 03:11.913 --> 03:13.420 That the way President Trump communicates 03:13.420 --> 03:18.132 with member states might harm unity in NATO? 03:18.132 --> 03:20.999 And might actually alienate the populations 03:20.999 --> 03:23.149 in some member countries from the alliance? 03:25.500 --> 03:29.820 - European allies and Canada should not increase 03:29.820 --> 03:32.473 defense spending to please United States. 03:34.152 --> 03:36.232 They are increasing defense spending because 03:36.232 --> 03:39.430 it is in their own security interest to do so. 03:39.430 --> 03:41.430 That's the reason why they agreed 03:41.430 --> 03:43.903 to invest more in defense back in 2014. 03:44.747 --> 03:45.610 And that's the reason they are 03:47.006 --> 03:48.771 investing more in defense now. 03:48.771 --> 03:49.816 All of them. 03:49.816 --> 03:51.905 I'm not saying that they all have spent enough. 03:51.905 --> 03:53.400 But I'm saying that we have a very good start 03:53.400 --> 03:55.950 with significant increase across Europe and Canada. 03:59.900 --> 04:03.810 Then increase defense spending across Canada and Europe 04:03.810 --> 04:05.773 also improves burden sharing. 04:07.006 --> 04:07.839 Which is a good thing. 04:09.662 --> 04:13.272 But the reason to invest is not to please the United States. 04:13.272 --> 04:16.784 The reason to invest more in defense is because it's needed. 04:16.784 --> 04:20.113 Because we live in more unpredictable world. 04:21.425 --> 04:26.425 It's also that strong NATO is good for Europe. 04:26.789 --> 04:28.639 But it's also good for United States. 04:29.640 --> 04:32.520 Two world wars and the Cold War taught us 04:32.520 --> 04:34.570 that we are stronger together than alone. 04:36.139 --> 04:37.761 And the only time that we invoked 04:37.761 --> 04:39.432 that NATO has invoked article five 04:39.432 --> 04:41.854 was after the attack on United States, 9/11. 04:41.854 --> 04:43.605 And hundreds of thousands of European soldiers 04:43.605 --> 04:45.102 and Canadian soldiers have served 04:45.102 --> 04:47.683 alongside US soldiers in Afghanistan. 04:49.329 --> 04:53.040 So NATO is a force multiplier for United States. 04:53.040 --> 04:55.910 Allies have stood with United States 04:56.877 --> 05:00.023 on battlefields from Korea to Afghanistan. 05:01.010 --> 05:04.470 And the US presence in Europe 05:07.374 --> 05:09.250 is of course good for European security 05:10.779 --> 05:12.863 but is also good for United States. 05:13.800 --> 05:17.343 It's a way for United States to have a platform 05:17.343 --> 05:21.473 to project military power to the Middle East and Africa. 05:24.222 --> 05:28.987 And European capabilities are also helping 05:30.927 --> 05:33.227 to strengthen protection of the United States. 05:34.195 --> 05:36.910 So I believe that we at this summit can show 05:38.624 --> 05:42.150 that unity, resolve, solidarity NATO 05:43.345 --> 05:45.360 is in the interest both of America, 05:45.360 --> 05:47.863 North America, and Europe. 05:49.602 --> 05:51.293 And therefor we will continue to deliver. 05:53.667 --> 05:56.483 - Okay, we go to Al-Aribia in the center here. 06:00.844 --> 06:02.470 - Nargi Fidi from L'Aribi News Channel. 06:04.596 --> 06:05.952 Secretary General, two days before 06:05.952 --> 06:09.250 the Tunisian security services has been badly targeted 06:09.250 --> 06:11.143 by the terrorist organization. 06:12.547 --> 06:15.230 I would like to ask you about there should be 06:15.230 --> 06:19.144 sure, in Tunisia, kind of lack of training, 06:19.144 --> 06:21.773 lack of equipment, proper equipment to fight terrorism. 06:22.650 --> 06:25.690 What NATO can, is providing already, 06:25.690 --> 06:28.963 what NATO can provide in the years ahead? 06:30.272 --> 06:32.718 And my second question linked to this one, 06:32.718 --> 06:37.520 the many terrorist groups active in Tunisia came from Libya. 06:39.336 --> 06:40.736 And you received many times, 06:41.752 --> 06:43.508 request from the Libyan official 06:43.508 --> 06:45.773 to assist them in defense execution. 06:46.700 --> 06:49.280 Given the crisis in Libya, did you manage 06:49.280 --> 06:54.280 did NATO manage to do any kind of job or organization 06:55.533 --> 06:57.033 or planning to help the Libyan? 06:58.193 --> 06:59.026 Or still nothing because of the 07:00.470 --> 07:03.000 intercommunication affecting this country? 07:03.000 --> 07:03.833 Thank you. 07:04.927 --> 07:08.036 - We are providing some support to Tunisia already. 07:08.036 --> 07:09.020 But I expect that government will agree 07:10.100 --> 07:12.211 the package for defense capacity building 07:12.211 --> 07:13.044 for Tunisia at this summit. 07:14.050 --> 07:15.774 So that we can do more. 07:15.774 --> 07:18.689 And that's exactly addressing the issues you mentioned. 07:18.689 --> 07:21.650 It will be about helping them to fight terrorism. 07:21.650 --> 07:23.985 It's about the border security. 07:23.985 --> 07:25.329 It's about intelligence. 07:25.329 --> 07:28.140 It's about countering ideas and other areas 07:28.140 --> 07:31.803 which are important addressing the terrorist threats. 07:33.270 --> 07:36.230 We strongly believe that working with partners as Tunisia 07:36.230 --> 07:39.726 is one of the best we can fight terrorism. 07:39.726 --> 07:41.670 Because to train local forces, 07:41.670 --> 07:45.350 to enable local governments to stabilize their own countries 07:45.350 --> 07:49.900 is a much more viable strategy 07:49.900 --> 07:51.483 in the fight against terrorism. 07:52.678 --> 07:54.778 Than being forced to deploy our own troops 07:55.733 --> 07:56.783 in combat operations. 07:58.132 --> 07:59.874 When it comes to Libya, 07:59.874 --> 08:02.524 we are first of all supporting the unilateral efforts 08:03.411 --> 08:06.908 to find a peaceful negotiated solution to the crisis 08:06.908 --> 08:08.607 to the conflict. 08:08.607 --> 08:10.057 But we are also ready to provide 08:10.057 --> 08:12.843 help with institution building. 08:13.929 --> 08:16.501 Help them to build means of defense 08:16.501 --> 08:17.863 and other defense institutions. 08:19.872 --> 08:21.993 And we are working that with the government of Libya now. 08:23.432 --> 08:25.698 - We'll take a couple of questions from the front row. 08:25.698 --> 08:27.643 We'll start with the gentleman first over there, yeah. 08:29.011 --> 08:31.146 - News Agency Interpress, Niels Georgio. 08:31.146 --> 08:34.046 Mr. Secretary General, before the summit, the Asia summit, 08:36.451 --> 08:37.870 Russian officials have constantly expressed their concerns 08:40.562 --> 08:41.395 over deepening relations between Georgia and NATO. 08:42.515 --> 08:44.411 Even yesterday, diplomatic sources inside NATO 08:44.411 --> 08:49.178 validating Russian news agency Rianalis reported that 08:49.178 --> 08:53.140 Georgia may join NATO without membership action plan 08:54.208 --> 08:56.813 and there are such discussions inside NATO. 08:56.813 --> 08:59.182 How would you assess such reports 08:59.182 --> 09:00.432 and what tangible results 09:01.448 --> 09:03.187 could Georgia expect from this summit? 09:03.187 --> 09:04.739 And also, you have mentioned in your speech 09:04.739 --> 09:08.240 that the doors of NATO remain open for everyone 09:09.308 --> 09:10.141 who wants to join this organization. 09:10.141 --> 09:13.719 So if those doors are still open, 09:13.719 --> 09:15.046 why can't we enter? 09:15.046 --> 09:18.067 And when Georgia will be able to enter those open doors? 09:18.067 --> 09:18.900 Thank you. 09:19.935 --> 09:22.170 - I'm certain that the heads of state and government 09:22.170 --> 09:25.290 at the summit starting tomorrow will recognize 09:26.155 --> 09:28.300 the progress that Georgia is making. 09:28.300 --> 09:31.360 On the reforms, on the strength in your 09:31.360 --> 09:33.100 defense and security institutions. 09:33.100 --> 09:38.100 And we will continue to provide support for Georgia. 09:39.434 --> 09:41.938 And we are also grateful for the support 09:41.938 --> 09:44.879 that Georgia provides to NATO missions and operations. 09:44.879 --> 09:46.410 Not least in Afghanistan. 09:46.410 --> 09:51.410 And so we think Georgia is really making good progress. 09:52.740 --> 09:56.913 I'm not able to give you a specific timeline. 09:58.035 --> 10:00.274 But I think that the fact that both 10:00.274 --> 10:03.000 Montenegro has joined and that we most likely 10:03.000 --> 10:06.200 will decide tomorrow to invite 10:06.200 --> 10:08.750 the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 10:09.655 --> 10:11.038 to start the session talks 10:11.038 --> 10:13.118 shows that NATO's door is open. 10:13.118 --> 10:17.657 And we will continue to support Georgia 10:18.660 --> 10:21.693 on its way towards membership. 10:23.173 --> 10:25.657 And we also expect that heads of state and government 10:25.657 --> 10:29.260 will agree that the decision we made in 2008 10:29.260 --> 10:33.003 that Georgia will become members still stands. 10:34.987 --> 10:37.320 - Okay, we'll go over there. 10:39.868 --> 10:41.670 - Amustavo Serra from Radio Free Europe. 10:41.670 --> 10:44.933 Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary General. 10:45.906 --> 10:50.524 As we speak, Saudi Arabia is hosting a two day conference 10:50.524 --> 10:53.573 a peace conference on Afghanistan. 10:54.500 --> 10:57.340 How do you assess Saudi's role 10:57.340 --> 11:00.091 in the peace process in Afghanistan 11:00.091 --> 11:03.770 and can these regional efforts eventually bring, 11:06.720 --> 11:09.110 encourage the Taliban to come to 11:09.110 --> 11:11.560 the negotiating table with the Afghan government? 11:12.428 --> 11:13.261 Thank you. 11:14.215 --> 11:17.020 - I think it is important to support an Afghan led 11:17.020 --> 11:19.173 and Afghan owned peace process. 11:20.350 --> 11:22.950 And that's exactly why NATO has so strongly welcomed 11:22.950 --> 11:26.883 the peace initiative taken by President Gahni. 11:27.810 --> 11:31.520 He invited Taliban, without conditions, 11:31.520 --> 11:34.143 to sit down and start peace negotiations. 11:35.619 --> 11:37.460 And he also launched a cease fire 11:37.460 --> 11:41.685 in connection with the eight holidays. 11:41.685 --> 11:46.685 We strongly underline that it is important 11:48.074 --> 11:50.374 with support from all countries in the region, 11:51.414 --> 11:53.664 but that support has to be to an Afghan owned 11:54.649 --> 11:56.513 and Afghan led peace process. 11:57.792 --> 12:00.394 The main reason why NATO is in Afghanistan 12:00.394 --> 12:01.770 is to fight terrorism. 12:01.770 --> 12:04.343 To do so we need a stable Afghanistan. 12:05.240 --> 12:08.240 And we will continue to be there. 12:08.240 --> 12:10.994 The purpose of NATO's military presence 12:10.994 --> 12:12.670 is to create the conditions 12:12.670 --> 12:15.090 for a peaceful negotiated solution. 12:15.090 --> 12:16.670 Taliban has to understand that 12:17.669 --> 12:19.033 they will not win on the battlefield. 12:21.335 --> 12:24.390 And they have to sit down and talk with Afghani Government 12:25.238 --> 12:26.463 and find a political solution. 12:27.860 --> 12:29.510 - Jean-France Press, at the back. 12:30.827 --> 12:31.660 Yeah, over there. 12:32.585 --> 12:33.418 Thanks. 12:35.388 --> 12:37.875 (foreign language) 12:37.875 --> 12:38.896 - [Translator] Good afternoon, sir. 12:38.896 --> 12:41.335 A question in French, if you don't mind. 12:41.335 --> 12:43.285 President Trump is quite unpredictable. 12:44.214 --> 12:46.080 When he met the North Korean leader, 12:46.080 --> 12:48.680 he canceled a huge military exercise 12:48.680 --> 12:50.973 that was scheduled for South Korea. 12:52.281 --> 12:55.379 Do you have any fear that before meeting President Putin, 12:55.379 --> 12:59.900 and to avoid war game, he will cancel the NATO exercise 12:59.900 --> 13:02.400 scheduled for Norway in the autumn? 13:02.400 --> 13:06.180 And what would be the consequences of such cancellation? 13:06.180 --> 13:08.020 And another question. 13:08.020 --> 13:11.853 Do you share the call by President Tusk 13:11.853 --> 13:16.577 with a little bit more politeness amongst allies? 13:17.646 --> 13:19.964 If we disagree so strongly, are we still called allies? 13:19.964 --> 13:20.977 Thank you. 13:27.852 --> 13:31.763 - I welcome that President Trump will meet President Putin. 13:32.641 --> 13:34.641 That's fully in line with NATO policies. 13:36.098 --> 13:38.010 NATO believes in what we call the 13:38.010 --> 13:39.643 dual track approach to Russia. 13:40.680 --> 13:42.333 Combining defense with dialogue. 13:43.210 --> 13:45.923 We need to be strong, we need to be firm, 13:47.177 --> 13:48.658 we need to be predictable. 13:48.658 --> 13:51.460 And NATO allies have invested more in defense 13:51.460 --> 13:53.663 are increasing the readiness of our forces. 13:54.818 --> 13:56.690 And we have battle groups 13:57.823 --> 13:59.787 in the eastern part of the alliance. 13:59.787 --> 14:02.183 So we show that we deliver 14:02.183 --> 14:03.583 on the terms on the defense. 14:04.780 --> 14:07.480 That is the best possible plan for political dialogue. 14:08.663 --> 14:10.538 Because we don't want a new Cold War. 14:10.538 --> 14:12.140 We don't want a new arms race. 14:12.140 --> 14:13.364 Russia's our neighbor. 14:13.364 --> 14:14.912 Russia's there to stay. 14:14.912 --> 14:19.220 And we need dialogue with Russia on many different levels. 14:19.220 --> 14:22.163 To try to strive for a better relationship with Russia. 14:23.432 --> 14:25.515 But even without the better relationship 14:25.515 --> 14:27.163 it is important to talk to Russia. 14:27.163 --> 14:29.330 To manage a difficult relationship. 14:29.330 --> 14:31.020 To avoid risks, miscalculations, 14:31.020 --> 14:33.703 misunderstandings, incidents, and accidents. 14:34.902 --> 14:36.043 So with higher tensions, 14:36.043 --> 14:38.530 more military activity along our borders, 14:38.530 --> 14:41.073 it is actually more important to dialogue, 14:41.073 --> 14:44.393 maintain lines of communications between NATO and Russia. 14:44.393 --> 14:45.803 And NATO allies and Russia. 14:46.913 --> 14:49.829 Several NATO leaders have met President Putin. 14:49.829 --> 14:53.130 NATO for two years, we were not able to convene 14:53.130 --> 14:55.063 what we call the NATO-Russia council. 14:56.112 --> 14:58.741 But since 2016, we have been able to convene 14:58.741 --> 15:00.370 seven meetings of the NATO-Russia council. 15:00.370 --> 15:02.540 Which is a platform for direct dialogue 15:03.543 --> 15:04.973 with Russia and NATO allies. 15:06.220 --> 15:10.632 So I think it's absolutely the right thing 15:10.632 --> 15:13.450 that President Trump meets President Putin. 15:13.450 --> 15:18.190 I'm confident that this meeting is important 15:18.190 --> 15:23.190 because dialogue is important in times of high tensions. 15:23.220 --> 15:27.553 Any measures that can reduce tensions, we welcome. 15:28.424 --> 15:31.897 But of course, it is important that NATO stay united. 15:31.897 --> 15:35.870 And I welcome the fact that we will also 15:35.870 --> 15:38.280 be able to discuss with President Trump 15:38.280 --> 15:40.650 ahead of the meeting with President Putin 15:41.560 --> 15:43.210 during our dinner tomorrow night. 15:44.200 --> 15:45.920 Where we have the opportunity to discuss 15:47.252 --> 15:49.193 NATO's relationship with Russia. 15:50.130 --> 15:53.103 Then on the other question. 15:56.668 --> 15:59.344 As I have said many times during the last two months, 15:59.344 --> 16:00.994 that yes there are disagreements. 16:03.554 --> 16:04.554 And different views. 16:05.791 --> 16:06.996 And I expect actually, 16:06.996 --> 16:09.123 honest and frank discussions during the summit. 16:10.913 --> 16:14.880 But I strongly believe that NATO can continue to be 16:16.507 --> 16:18.607 the cornerstone of trans-atlantic security 16:19.453 --> 16:20.793 despite those disagreements. 16:22.348 --> 16:24.898 Partly because we have been able to do that before. 16:26.334 --> 16:29.640 There has been disagreements between allies 16:30.883 --> 16:32.283 as long as this alliance has existed. 16:33.437 --> 16:35.237 Back to the sous crisis in the 50's. 16:36.491 --> 16:38.410 Or when France decided to leave 16:38.410 --> 16:42.095 the command structure 1960's. 16:42.095 --> 16:44.686 And NATO had to move from Paris to Brussels. 16:44.686 --> 16:46.613 Our headquarters and to move from Paris to Brussels. 16:46.613 --> 16:48.520 Or the Iraq war in 2003. 16:48.520 --> 16:50.550 So it's nothing new that there are 16:50.550 --> 16:52.999 disagreements between NATO allies. 16:52.999 --> 16:55.110 And history tells us that NATO has been able to 16:55.110 --> 16:58.380 overcome those disagreements again and again. 16:58.380 --> 17:00.170 The second reason why I believe that NATO 17:00.170 --> 17:01.920 will continue to be the cornerstone 17:02.766 --> 17:04.160 of Euro-Atlantic security is that 17:04.160 --> 17:08.663 it is in our interest to maintain NATO. 17:09.831 --> 17:11.420 It is good for Europe. 17:11.420 --> 17:13.203 But it's also good for North America. 17:15.949 --> 17:18.039 The fact that Europe, in Europe 17:18.039 --> 17:20.340 you have European forces, you have European infrastructure 17:21.185 --> 17:23.758 which are important not only for the protection of Europe 17:23.758 --> 17:24.591 but also for the 17:25.476 --> 17:29.570 for the US to projects the military power 17:29.570 --> 17:33.073 to the Middle East and Africa. 17:34.851 --> 17:38.520 And the fact that forces, European forces, capabilities 17:39.820 --> 17:44.820 are important also to help to strengthen 17:45.086 --> 17:48.353 that protection of the United States.