Source North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, 24 March 2023.
Media www.rajawalisiber.com – On Friday (24 March 2023) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to NATO Headquarters. They discussed NATO’s role in the protection of undersea critical infrastructure, which is vital for the security of Allies. Last week, the two men visited the Troll A natural gas platform, off the coast of Norway, together with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Mr Stoltenberg stressed that NATO is stepping up work on securing critical infrastructure, with increased military presence, greater situational awareness, and enhanced cooperation with international partners and the private sector.
Mr Stoltenberg thanked Prime Minister Gahr Støre for Norway’s leading role in helping the Alliance to understand and address challenges in the High North, including by hosting NATO exercises like the recently concluded Joint Viking, the largest military winter drill in Arctic Europe in 2023. He also thanked Norway for other contributions to NATO, including serving in the multinational battlegroup in Lithuania. He welcomed Norway’s significant aid to Ukraine and stressed the need to continue sustaining assistance for Ukraine, as it resists Russia’s illegal war.
The two leaders also addressed the accession of Finland and Sweden. Mr Stoltenberg said, “I welcome that TĂĽrkiye and Hungary are ready to ratify Finland’s membership of NATO – and I hope that both will do so swiftly” He stressed that, “for me, it is a top priority to make sure that Sweden’s accession is also ratified as soon as possible,” because their accession will make NATO stronger and demonstrate that NATO’s door remains open.
🗣 | NATO Secretary General: Prime Minister Gahr Støre, Dear Jonas,
Last time we met was at the Troll platform in the North Sea. And that demonstrates the importance Norway is playing to help us reduce Europe’s dependency on Russian gas.
It also demonstrates Norway’s central role in strengthening our shared security, including energy security.
NATO is stepping up to better deter and respond to threats to critical infrastructure. And we have increased our military presence in the North Sea in recent months.
Thank you, Prime Minister, for driving NATO’s work on securing our critical undersea infrastructure.
It is important that we understand our vulnerabilities, and increase protection working with NATO Allies, our partners and also with the private sector.
Norway also plays a key role in helping our Alliance to understand and address challenges in the High North.
Including by hosting exercises such as Joint Viking, the largest drills in Europe’s Arctic this year.
Norwegian forces also serve in our multinational battlegroup in Lithuania, helping to deter any aggression.
We just discussed Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.
I welcome Norway’s significant financial, humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. This includes air defence systems, tanks, artillery ammunition and training for Ukrainian soldiers.
We must continue to provide Ukraine with what they need to prevail, for as long as it takes.
Today we also discussed Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO.
I welcome that Türkiye and Hungary are ready to ratify Finland’s membership of our Alliance. And I hope that both will do so swiftly.
For me, it is a top priority to make sure that Sweden’s accession is also ratified as soon as possible.
The accession of Finland and Sweden will make our Alliance stronger. And demonstrate that NATO’s door remains open.
So Prime Minister, Thank you again for Norway’s contributions to our shared security. I look forward to continuing to work together with you.