Europe

Home page

Europe

Wales Summit to boost NATO readiness to face threats: Rasmussen

09 July 2014 04:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. NATO's Wales Summit scheduled for September is intended to boost the alliance's readiness to face threats and seek a common commitment to reverse the decline in defense investment, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Rasmussen, who is now on a visit to the United States, also "thanked President Barack Obama for his country's leadership within the Alliance and strong commitment to transatlantic security" during their talk at the White House, a NATO statement issued Tuesday in Brussels said.

"At our Wales Summit in September, we will take further steps, to ensure that NATO is prepared to face any threats," said Rasmussen. "But readiness requires resources so at the Summit we will also seek a common commitment to reverse the decline in defence investment."

At the Wales Summit, the Allies will also turn a new page in Afghanistan. NATO will at the end of this year complete its longest combat mission and has already started to prepare to train, advise, and assist the Afghan forces after 2014.

"We have achieved a lot, but not without cost. and I want to pay particular tribute to the sacrifice made by American forces in Afghanistan," the NATO chief said.

He stressed that the electoral process in Afghanistan must run its course to a transparent and credible conclusion, which is "vital for the future of Afghanistan and for continued international support."

Rasmussen said that the upcoming summit will also be an important opportunity for NATO to reinforce its work with partners, including those who have fought alongside Allied forces and to reach-out further to help build defence capacity in countries where crises can be prevented.

On Monday, the NATO chief addressed the need to ensure a continued strong transatlantic bond for an unpredictable world in a speech delivered at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington.

He is expected to give a speech on Wednesday at the Marine's Memorial Club in San Francisco on "the need to reinforce the rules-based international order," the NATO statement said.