Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.Image: keystone
June 29, 2026, 06:09June 29, 2026, 06:09
According to former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the USA remains heavily dependent on its allies in Europe – despite all of President Donald Trump’s criticism of the military alliance.
“The defense of the USA begins at the European-Russian border,” said the current Norwegian finance minister to “Welt” (Monday). One of the world’s largest nuclear weapons arsenals is located directly across the Norwegian border on the Russian Kola Peninsula. “These weapons are not aimed at Oslo – they are aimed at Washington and New York. But Norway helps track Russian submarines as they leave their bases.”
He went on to say that Norway also helps with early warning of missiles and aircraft launches. «And the situation is similar in Finland and many other European countries. “This is critical to the security of the United States,” he emphasized.
US and Europe have “serious disagreements”
With a view to the upcoming NATO summit on July 7th and 8th in Ankara and Trump’s repeated criticism of its partners in Europe, Stoltenberg continued to tell the “Welt”: “Of course there are serious differences of opinion between the USA and Europe in the areas of trade, climate and security issues. I don’t underestimate these challenges.”
The most important thing that Europe can do to preserve NATO, even under Trump, is to invest more in defense. «And that’s exactly what we do. Germany is now well on its way to becoming the largest European defense investor.”
Invasion of Ukraine “failure” by Putin
Stoltenberg called the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine a “strategic failure” by President Vladimir Putin. «He still doesn’t control Donbass, and Ukraine is closer to Europe than ever. Finland and Sweden joined NATO as a direct result of the invasion. “So Putin has not achieved any of his strategic goals, although Russia is paying a big price.” (sda/dpa)