Stoltenberg bid farewell to NATO with these words: Europe is not safe without Turkey.

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The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who will hand over his duties to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on October 1, gave a farewell speech at an event organized by the German Marshall Fund, a think tank. In his speech, Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of Turkey for Europe's security.

FAREWELL CEREMONY FOR STOLTENBERG

A farewell program was held in Belgium due to the end of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's term. Speaking at the program organized by the German Marshall Fund (GMF), Stoltenberg stated that NATO has become stronger and more important than ever during his tenure. Stoltenberg said, "Since I took office as Secretary General in 2014, the world has undergone profound changes. We have witnessed Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, the rise of ISIS, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, China's increasing competitiveness, the Covid pandemic, sophisticated cyber attacks, and the growing impact of climate change on our security. The list goes on. Throughout my tenure as Secretary General, NATO's importance has been questioned. The alliance has been claimed to be divided, outdated, and brain-dead. But the truth is that NATO is strong, united, and more important than ever."

"I AM PROUD"

Stoltenberg pointed out that NATO has undergone significant changes in the last 10 years, with thousands of NATO troops now stationed on the eastern flank, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Finland, and Sweden joining NATO, and Ukraine coming closer to NATO than ever before. He stated, "I am proud to have served as NATO Secretary General. I am happy to have guided this Alliance during a historically decisive 10 years." Stoltenberg expressed that he believes there are five lessons that will be key to the alliance's future success, defining the first as the need to be willing to pay the price for peace.

"WE MUST NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE WITH CHINA"

Stoltenberg emphasized that the second lesson is that freedom is more important than free trade, stating, "Not long ago, many allies believed that buying gas from Russia was purely a commercial matter. This was wrong. Russia tried to pressure us by using gas as a weapon and preventing us from supporting Ukraine. We must not make the same mistake with China."

"UKRAINE WILL JOIN NATO"

Stoltenberg noted that the third lesson is that military power is a prerequisite for dialogue, saying, "Dialogue only works if you have a strong defense capability behind you. This has been clearly demonstrated in the case of Ukraine." He emphasized that sustainable security in Europe cannot be established as long as Ukraine is unstable, stating, "Similarly, as long as Ukraine is not a NATO member, there can be no talk of lasting security in Ukraine. NATO's door is open. Ukraine will join NATO."

"THE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN LASTED TOO LONG"

Stoltenberg highlighted that the fourth lesson is that military power has its limits, stating, "We saw this clearly in Afghanistan. It was right to enter Afghanistan after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Our military intervention was based on a clear mandate from the UN. The intervention received broad political support across the alliance. We weakened Al-Qaeda and prevented Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. So, our mission was not in vain." On the other hand, Stoltenberg expressed that the mission in Afghanistan lasted too long, saying, "When I joined NATO in 2014, the plan was to end our military presence there within a few years and transition to a political partnership. However, seven years later, we were still there with thousands of troops. What began as a counter-terrorism operation turned into a large-scale nation-building mission." He emphasized that the cost of the mission's expansion was evident, stating, "After 20 years, we were still not winning the war. The Taliban was making progress, and when we left, there was no unified Afghan authority to take responsibility. The rapid collapse of the Afghan government and security forces showed that leaving was the right decision."

WARNING TO EUROPE: IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT TURKEY

Stoltenberg expressed that the fifth and most important lesson is that the bond between Europe and North America should never be taken for granted, stating, "NATO is not something carved in stone. NATO is the result of conscious choices and political will. We have heard voices saying that America and Europe should part ways. Focusing on short-term national interests does not replace long-term cooperation. A policy of isolation does not keep anyone safe. We live in an interconnected world. Security challenges are immense, and competition is fierce. No country can handle this alone. Investing in the transatlantic relationship is the only profitable path forward." He emphasized that Europeans must understand that Europe's security cannot be ensured without NATO, stating, "80% of NATO's defense spending comes from countries that are not members of the European Union. This is not just a matter of resources. It is also about geography. It is impossible to envision the security of the European continent without Turkey in the south, Norway in the north, and the US, Canada, and the UK in the west." Stoltenberg highlighted that the transatlantic alliance has significant benefits for both Europe and the US, reminding that no major power has as many friends and allies as the US.