NATO Secretary General with the Prime Minister of Slovenia 🇸🇮 Robert Golob, 21 MAR 2024

Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Dr Robert Golob, 21 March 2024.

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

Prime Minister Golob,
Dear Robert,

Welcome to NATO Headquarters.
It’s great to see you again.
We just finished a very productive meeting addressing a wide range of issues related to our shared security.

This month we mark the 20th anniversary of Slovenia’s accession to NATO.

NATO’s open door has helped to spread freedom and democracy throughout Europe.
And for two decades, you have stood with Allies, united and fully committed to our collective security.
So I commend you for your many contributions to NATO’s collective defence and to our shared security.

You are supporting NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
You have deployed troops to our battlegroups in Latvia and Slovakia.

And Slovenia, as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, you are showing your leadership in support of global peace and security.

At this critical time, we all need to invest more in our security.
So I welcome the steps Slovenia has taken to increase defence spending.

As Slovenia stands with NATO,
NATO stands with Slovenia.

Italian and Hungarian jets guard your skies.
And NATO Allies sent urgent aid to help Slovenia after last year’s floods, helping save lives.

Today in our meeting, we addressed Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Despite major losses, President Putin has not given up his war aims.

The situation on the battlefield remains very difficult.
Ukraine is running out of ammunition.

So Ukraine needs even more support.
And they need it now.

I welcome the contributions that Slovenia has already made.
Including humanitarian and security assistance.
And welcoming Ukrainian refugees.

Today, we also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans.
A region of strategic importance in our shared European neighbourhood, and of strategic importance for NATO.

Last year’s outbreaks of violence in Kosovo were unacceptable.
And NATO responded swiftly, deploying 1,000 extra troops.
We are committed to ensuring that KFOR continues to fulfil its UN mandate.

We also spoke about Bosnia-Herzegovina.
NATO strongly supports the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

All political leaders must work to preserve unity.
Separatist rhetoric is irresponsible and dangerous.

Finally, we also discussed the preparations for the NATO Summit in July.
In Washington, we will take further steps to resource our defence plans,
bolster our support to Ukraine,
and deepen our partnerships around the world.

So Prime Minister,
Thank you again for our excellent cooperation,
For your strong personal commitment to our transatlantic Alliance.

So please, now you have the floor.
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