Biden Subtly Criticizes Trump in NATO Speech "This Remarkable Progress is Proof"
Biden Subtly Criticizes Trump in NATO Speech "This Remarkable Progress is Proof"
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00:00decades of the Cold War. When former adversaries became fellow democracies,
00:05we welcomed them into the alliance. When war broke out in the Balkans,
00:09we intervened to restore peace and stop ethnic cleansing. And when the United States was attacked
00:15on September 11th, our NATO allies, all of you, stood with us, invoking Article 5 for the first
00:21time in NATO history, treating an attack on us as an attack on all of us. A breathtaking display of
00:29friendship that the American people will never, ever, ever forget. Through all this history,
00:36when great changes occurred, people would ask, can NATO adapt? And every time we proved we could
00:43adapt, and we did, evolving our strategy to stay ahead of threats, reaching out to new partners
00:51to increase our effectiveness. And here with us today are countries from the Indo-Pacific region.
00:58They're here because they have a stake in our success, and we have a stake in theirs.
01:04Today, NATO is more powerful than ever, 32 nations strong. For years, Finland and Sweden
01:14were among our closest partners. Now they have chosen to officially join NATO,
01:20and because of the power and meaning of Article 5 guarantee, that's the reason.
01:25It was the most important aspect of the alliance in 1949, and is still the most important aspect.
01:32I'd also note, Finland and Sweden joined the alliance not just because their leaders sought
01:38it, because their citizens called for it in overwhelming numbers. Remember,
01:44NATO's character is fundamentally democratic, always has been, and always must continue to be.
01:52And today, NATO's better resource than it ever has been. I want to pause on this because it's
01:59significant. In the year 2020, the year I was elected president, only nine NATO allies are
02:07spending two percent of their defense GDP on defense. This year, 23 will spend at least two
02:14percent. And some will spend more than that, and the remaining countries that have not yet
02:24reached that milestone will get there soon. It's remarkable progress, proof that our commitment
02:31is broad and deep, that we're ready, that we're willing, we're able to deter aggression,
02:39and defend every inch of NATO territory across every domain, land, air, sea, cyber, and space.
02:49My friends, it's good that we're stronger than ever,
02:53because this moment in history calls for our collective strength.
02:58Autocrats want to overturn global order, which is by and large kept for nearly 80 years and
03:05counting. Terrorist groups continue to plot evil schemes, cause mayhem and chaos and suffering.
03:12In Europe, Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine continues,
03:18and Putin wants nothing less, nothing less than Ukraine's total subjugation
03:24to end Ukraine's democracy, destroy Ukraine's culture, and to wipe Ukraine off the map.
03:32And we know Putin won't stop at Ukraine,
03:35but make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin.
03:47Especially with our full collective support, and they have our full support.
03:53Even before Russian bombs were falling in Ukraine, the alliance acted.
03:57The alliance acted. However, I ordered the U.S. reinforcements at NATO's eastern flank.
04:04More troops, more aircraft, more capabilities. And now the United States has more than 100,000
04:12troops on the continent of Europe. NATO moves swiftly as well, not only reinforcing the four
04:19existing battle groups in the east, but also adding four more in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania,
04:25and Slovakia. Essentially doubling NATO's strength on the eastern flank.
04:31Together, we've built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine. Together, we've provided
04:38significant economic and humanitarian assistance. And together, we've supplied Ukraine with weapons
04:44it needs to defend itself. Tanks, armored fighting vehicles, air defense systems,
04:49long-range missiles, and millions of munitions. The United States and nearly two dozen allied
04:57partners have signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine. And more countries
05:02will follow. Today, I'm announcing a historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine.
05:10The United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy will provide Ukraine
05:16with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems. And in the coming months,
05:23the United States and our partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of additional
05:27tactical air defense systems. The United States will make sure that when we export
05:32critical air defense interceptors, Ukraine goes to the front of the line.
05:37They will get this assistance before anyone else gets it. All told, Ukraine will receive
05:44hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, helping protect Ukrainian cities against
05:49Russian missiles and Ukrainian troops facing their attacks on their front lines.
05:55Make no mistake, Russia is failing in this war. More than two years in a row,
06:03Russia is failing in this war. More than two years into Putin's war of choice,
06:08its losses are staggering. More than 350,000 Russian troops dead or wounded. Nearly one
06:15million Russians, many of them young people, have left Russia because they no longer see a future
06:20in Russia. And, key, remember, fellows and ladies, it's supposed to fall in five days, remember?
06:28We're still standing two and a half years later, and we'll continue to stand.
06:39All of our allies knew that before this war, Putin thought NATO would break.
06:46Today, NATO is stronger than it's ever been in its history.
06:50When this census war began, Ukraine was a free country. Today, it is still a free country.
06:58And the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country.
07:04Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail.
07:13Ladies and gentlemen, this is a pivotal moment for Europe, for the transatlantic community,
07:19and, I might add, for the world. Let's remember the fact that NATO remains the
07:24bulwark of global security. It did not happen by accident. It wasn't inevitable.
07:29Again and again, at critical moments, we chose unity over disunion, progress over retreat,
07:36freedom over tyranny, hope over fear. Again and again, we stood behind our shared vision
07:42of a peaceful and prosperous transatlantic community. Here at this summit, we gather
07:47to proclaim NATO is ready and able to secure that vision today and well into the future.
07:54Let me say this. An overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans understand that NATO
08:07makes us all safer. The fact that both Democratic and Republican parties are represented here today
08:14is a testament to that fact. The American people know that all the progress we've made in the past
08:2075 years has happened behind the shield of NATO. And the American people understand what would
08:27happen if there was no NATO. Another war in Europe, American troops fighting and dying,
08:35dictators spreading chaos, economic collapse, catastrophes. Americans, they know we're
08:44stronger with our friends. And we understand this is a sacred obligation. As President Reagan
08:51put it, and I quote, if our fellow democracies are not secure, we cannot be secure. If you
08:58are threatened, we are threatened. If you're not at peace, we cannot be at peace. Reagan knew it
09:06then, and we know it now. Our nations will continue to keep faith with what we pledged
09:13in years to come. Now, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to end my remarks in a slightly unusual way.
09:22NATO is an alliance of nations, but also made up of leaders. And one person in particular
09:29has done an extraordinary job leading NATO for the last decade, Secretary General Stoltenberg.
09:36Will you come forward?