Thank you for listening to Depiction's Media Radio. Welcome to Policy Rights to show about government policy and human rights. Okay, welcome back to policy and rights
here in Depictions Media Radio. I'm your host, Michael Cloggs. NATO is or the North American Treaty Organization. It has been in existence for ever since I can remember, and I remember it as a protection group against the Soviet Union for those countries who stood on the other side of the ideals and I and principles that the Soviet Union wanted the Eastern Bloc countries leading into from as I remember, from the nineteen sixties, nineteen seventies into the nineteen eighties,
of course, into the fall of the Berlin Law. NATO still exists till the day as a treaty as a defense mechanism to help protect countries like Canada, the United States, Germany, England, France. I could keep going on about which countries are are protected by the North American Treaty Organization and in which case when we lead into the conversation that we're going to hear or press conference we're going to hear in just a few minutes that they're now helping Ukraine
stand against the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation, as is described in this press conference, is a war of aggression. We'll simply put most wars are there's an aggressor and of course there's a defender. Sometimes maybe even two aggressors. But at this point, maybe NATO should be a little bit more than a defense organization and a little bit more of a organization that is trying to
bring peace to the table. And that's where where the issue is that according to what we're going to hear that NATO countries are being asked to set aside two percent of their GDP. Well, in a lot of cases that can be that's quite a trunk of money, and money is to be spent on defense so that NATO has access to troops that NATO can enact these troops in
order as a defense mechanism against enemies to the organization itself. And we have, of course the United Nations that is trying to bring peace and trying to in the war of aggression between Russian Ukraine by bringing them to a negotiation table. We're going to hear statements about that negotiation table also that says that the more territories that Ukraine can hold. Going into those negotiations means the better the
deal will actually be for NATO. Is NATO at this point trying to continue a war, prolonged a war, or they try at this point trying to end the war as quickly as possible and also end attacks on human beings. Why don't we listen to what was said in the chancellery in Germany as NATO gives a press conference, and we'll be back. Secretary General, dear Yans, it's so nice to welcome you back to Berlin, to the chancellery. The top of our agenda was the summit NATO is gathering in billions in three
weeks time. We're going to deal and discuss with dealing with the war of aggression in Ukraine and its consequences. At the Madrid Summit one year ago, we agreed on a range of steps in order to bolster and strengthen the alliance. NATO is it defends alliance. Germany has done a lot in order to increase the alliances defense capability. We're all united in our resolve to defend every
square inch of NATO territory. Last week, the federal government adopted its national Security strategy for the first time in our history we have such a strategy. It stipulates very clearly that the defense of our country and the defense of our alliance have absolute priority for the bunds. There with the Special Fund to the tune of one hundred billion, we have past important investments in order to modernize our capabilities and enhance these, and we are going to spend two percent of
our GDP annually on defense. NATO is and remains the central and pivotal garantea of our collective security. We are going to make reliably make available a major part of there for the defense of the Alliance. In Already, Germany's very engaged when it comes to the protection of our alliance in Central and Eastern Europe.
In Lithuania, for a long time we've been leading a multinational battle group and with our Eurofighters and Patriot systems, we're protecting Poland and we're participating in air port leasing in the Baltics. In addition, we keep almost seventeen thousand soldiers ready for the Native Response Force in order to quickly lend assistance to threatened allies. Our focus on the defense of the country and the alliance also means
that we exercise intensively together with our allies. Right now we have the exercise Air Defender, the largest exercise of air forces in German skies in decades. This past Friday again the first hand impression of the state of cooperation among allies. In Yaga, I saw just how well twenty five nations are cooperating in this exercise. In Europe, we need to invest in air defense. With the European sky Shield Initiative, we gather the states of Europe in order to
increase together the protection against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drew. We should be prepared that the Russian war of aggression may take a long time. We're preparing for that and we're adapting our policies accordingly. Germany is going to support
Ukraine as long as it is necessary. We have earmarked the necessary funding in our budget, and we are engaged and are committed to the fact that the German industry enhances its capacities for production and the repair and maintenance of armaments. It is clear NATO will not become a party to the war. Ladies and gentlemen, NATO is a strong alliance. Last year Finland and Sweden decided to join NATO and those countries are a welcome and an important addition to our alliance.
It is important to me that both countries will be gathered as allies in Vilnius together with us. The Secretary General and myself also talked about the security of critical infrastructure, especially in the North Sea. So I want to thank you for your commitment that Nature is going to take over a coordinating role. Sabotnas of gas pipelines, but also submarine cables and wind power plants affect the security of all of the alliance. It's not a matter pertaining to just single
alliance. We tackle these tasks together within the Alliance, and I'm grateful the good Corporation with the Nature, which you can represent like no other. Thank you so also results they would love. Thank you so much for hosting me here in Berlin, and also thank you so much for your leadership and for your personal commitment to NATO, to the Transatlantic Alliance. We face the most challenging security environment in a generation. Last the air prest and putins and hundreds
of thousands of tubes into Ukraine causing death and the destruction. Ukraine has the right to liberate, liberate its own land and a counter offensive is now underway. The more land the Ukrainians are able to liberate, the stronger their hand will eventually be at the negotiating table. We all want this war to end, but a just piece cannot mean freezing the conflict and accepting a deal dictated by Russia. NATO is, as you said, no party to the conflict.
We stand by Ukraine in its right to self defense and shrined in the UN Charter, and I commend Germany for its leading role in providing military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and the recent decision to deliver another sixty four Patriot missiles to Ukraine. This will save lives to day. We also discussed our long term support. The Villainous Summit in July will set out a vision for Ukraine's future as an independent, democratic member of the U Atlantic Family.
At the summit, Allies and will address Ukraine's membership aspirations. Allies are working on a multi air package of assistance for Ukraine. We're also working to establish a new NATO Ukraine Council to jointly consult on security issues of mutual concern. The decisions we will take in Villneus will bring Ukraine closer to NATO. We also addressed bolstering NATO's the terrence and defense. This will be high on the agenda of our summit. We are now putting in place new regional plans with
assigned forces and capabilities and high level of readiness. Germany will play a major part out of this. You have already allocated thousands of troops to NATO, including through your leadership or our multinational battlegroup in Lithuania. I welcome Germany's first ever national security strategy, which confirms your strong commitment to NATO. I'm also thankful for Germany's leadership in establishing a new NATO Maritime Center for the security or
critical underseas infrastructure. This will increase our situation awareness and enhance our maritime presence. Tomorrow I will attend Exercise Air Defender, the biggest air exercise in NATO's history. This is an other demonstration of Germany's capabilities and commitment and sends a clear message and Nature remains ready to defend every inch of Allied territory to keep our people safe. We must continue to invest in our security. At the
NATO seventeen Livillnis, we will agree on a more ambitious defense investment. Fredge with two percent of GDP as the floor, not a ceiling, and as strongly welcome Germany's historic commitment to reach two percent. In twenty twenty four. We also discussed the situation in Kosovo. NATO's commitment to our United Nations mandate is unwavering. Our forces the k FOR will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom a movement for all communities in
Kosovo. We call on all parties to stop any further scalatory steps and to return immediately to the dialogue facilitated by the European Union. So chances al, thank you Games for Germany's leadership in this critical time of eat very much. Secretary General Ukraine expects of the summit in Vilnius a formal invitation to NATO to join nature. Would you say that after the Defense Ministry's meeting this past week, such an invitation is off the table finally, and that we're just talking
about pledges below this threshold. And Federal Chancellor you mentioned time and again the Decisions Declaration of Booker Rest in two thousand and eight, when Ukraine was given a perspective for accession. Could use think that there is a formulation beyond awarding beyond Bucharest. At in Vilnius, at the Vilnius Summit, and in the preparations for the we're not discussing to issue a formal invitation. What we are
discussing is how to move Ukraine closer to NATO. And there are ongoing consultations, and I'm not in a position to preempt the outcome of those consultations. But what I can say is that allies, actually alladay agree on a lot. We agree on that NATO's door is open. We are demonstrated that with the invitation of Finland and Sweden. We also agree on what we stated in
two thousand and eight that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance. We also agree that it's not for Russia, but for Ukraine and night to Allies to decide when the time is right to invite Ukraine. Russia doesn't have a vto over natal decisions. But most importantly, we all agree that the most urgent and important task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a servant in the democratic nation in Europe. Because unless we do that, unless Ukraine prevails,
there's no issue to be discussed at all related to membership. So therefore I'm absolutely confident that at the Business summit i'll as we iterate a strong support to Ukraine and they need to both blattery but also through multilateral institutions provide support Ukraine for as long as it takes. I don't have much to add. We have the Bucharest decision, the bookarestcisition is remains, the book Arest decision remains, and we need to focus on the task at hand. We need
to support Ukraine to defend its country, its integrity and sovereignty. Next question, please, Federal Chancellor, you stipulate this within the national security strategy you mentioned the two percent goal of NATO. Now their demands by Estonia the ally to increase the objective, to increase it to two point five and to make it the floor and not the ceiling. Do you agree the Federal government? Does the Federal government agree the defense budget is not supposed to increase that much
next year? And Secretary General on the two percent goal in the national security strategy which you commended right now, it reads that Germany wants to achieve this in a multi annual average, meaning that it would be okay if it would be below two percent for one year or another. Is that enough for you? And as from a NATO perspective, thank you very much for these questions. We took all the necessary preparations for us to reach the two percent goal.
We do this with the federal budget, but also by using the special fund that was conceived to actually be able to spend two percent. And in the law passing this special fund, you see the funding available and you could actually spend one year, spend more than others. But our outlook is two percent. Our perspective is two percent. I assume once all countries in europeath exceive this, and all members in the Transatlantic Alliance, this will lead to
a tremendous increase in our defense capabilities. I mean, it's a massive increase in defense spending. And if you look at all the many other countries and factor this in countries that also need to increase their spend for them to reach the two percent objective, then if you add all of this up, this
will result in a massive increase of defense capabilities for NATO. First of all, I would like to welcome the very strong commitment of Germany to reach two percent, and not only the commitment, but actually the fact that we have seen German defense spending going up significantly and also of course by the special fund
of one hundred billion euros, and the whole message from the site. Mender has really sent a very clear message about further increases and under strengthened commitment of Germany to contribute to our shared security, to our collected defense in NATO and AD's something I welcome and we have seen that commitment not only words but also
indeeds. Because Germany has taken important decisions to acquire new modern kaputies, including fighter jets and more air defenses and many other types of defense capilities which are important for Germany but also for the whole of NATO, then they need to reach two percent. Reflects the fact that we live in a more dangerous world. And again it will be for the leaders when they meet in Villius to
decide the exact language. But I have argued in favor of regarding two percent as a minimum because when you look at the capability targets, the capities we need to strengthen or collect the defense in the way we have agreed for many countries it will require actually more than two percent. Then, of course the realities that we have a two percent guideline, there will always be fluctuations in GDP. So certainly you have a pandemic and GDP goes down and then you
may have very high percentage. So these kind of fluctuations will always be the case. But there is a big difference fluctuating around one percent or one and a half percent and fructure entering around two percent. So the most important is that we have a significant increase defense spending and that we meet the capility targets
which we agree in which we have agreed in NATO. It add one brief thing, and that is that from our own experience as as a politician in minutes of Finance and and Prime Minister, I know that it's never easy to increase defense spending because if you spend more on defense, there's something less. There is less for health care, for education, for all the important things.
But the reality is that when we live in a more dangerous world, we just have to pay the price of investing more in defense because without peace and security, all the other things we are striving for, climate change prosperity will not Some were able to addrest them. If we don't ensure peace and security, they can Secretary General, I would like to ask a question pertaining to your own future. Could you say whether you would be available for an
extension of your term in office? There are more and more governments proposing this so that you would remain in office until April of next year, because people have not agreed on a successor male or female and Federal transfer. A question pertaining to another topic, Intel, the company Intel has made tremendous investments in Israel, twenty five billion Poland and five billion in Israel and Poland? Is the government going to pay ten billion in SUBBEYCE subsidies so that Intel will establish
a business location in market? Also, I'm nothing new to say about this. I have no intention of the seeking extension of my term. My only plan is to is to be focused on my Tusker sector Jenner Roll and do my job here until my tender end this this fall. And I really know all the plans. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for this question. As you know, I'm going to meet representatives of Intel today, it was publicly announced and I will answer your questions at a different press conference.
Federal and Chancellor you talked about the priority of country defense. You reiterated this shouldn't this be reflected in the regular defense budget. You're in the final phase of budget deliberations. Are we going to see a higher defense budget? And Secretary General you talked about the two percent, which are not the bottom,
not the ceiling. Don't you see a contradiction, a clear contradiction with regard to the security strategy, which is talking about a multi annual average that keeps the backdoor open to less and not strives to have more than two percent like you, Thank you very much for your question. Let me reiterate. We have proposed an ambitious enhancement of our defense effort and we assume that with the funding from the budget and the funds that we have from the Special Fund,
that we will be able to achieve the two percent threshold. If you don't insist on copyright, I will reiterate what the Secretary General just said. I will take it over one hundred percent, and I will ask the breath Secretary to say that it was my statement on not the Secretary generals. You
can take that no problem. First of all, Also, the thing is that the national security is a very important document and a welcome that and the expresses and formulate it's a very strong commitment of Germany to our collected defense, to a transatlantic bond, to NATO and also the need to invest more in
defense. And as I said, if you look at Europe on average, the fluctuations have been around one point five percent more or less, and of course if the fluctuations ends up around two percent, we are in a very
different world, which will be a huge improvement. Second, when I refer to two percent as a minimum, that reflects the reality that when you look on the NATO capility targets that the forces we agreed to have on high readiness and then the force structure we need to actually deliver on on strengthening or collected
defense. Then for many allies, depending on how much they invests invested in the past where they are, this will necessarily mean more than two percent, and also fluctuations on levels about two percent, But with uncertain as related to GDP, there will always be flutuations. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our
presence. Most of us want peace. Most of us common citizens don't want to hear about drone strikes, bombs being dropped attacks on other countries, attacks on cities where um damns are are exploding, and we definitely don't want it in our own neighborhood. We want to keep war out of our lives in general, because ultimately being the everyday people who our children are the ones that
may have to go off and fight the war. And we don't want to see our children coming back in body bags, nor do we want to see anybody else's children around the world come home to their parents in a body bag or a pine box. We have to find a way to convince NATO and other organizations that peace and talking is the foremost way to settle our differences so that we have our children with us, that we get to watch our grandchildren
grow and generations to come of human beings just live in peace. Thank you for listening to Depicttion's Media Radio. I've been your host Michael Clogs and please click that subscribe. But the show has been produced by Depictions Media. Please contact us at depictions dot media for more information.