Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

“Fortunately, the most successful military alliance in history has had some strong leadership in Brussels with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. I am deeply grateful for his tireless work on both urgent and long-term challenges facing the alliance, and for his deep devotion to the cause of collective defense,” McConnell stated.

“The Secretary General took office months after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2014. And after a pivotal decade, he will leave the alliance with renewed clarity and resolve to face even graver Russian aggression and linked authoritarian threats around the world,” he continued.

“For ten years, he’s worked relentlessly to expand allies’ focus to include serious challenges emanating from beyond NATO’s borderlands.”

McConnell highlighted Stoltenberg's efforts in improving engagement with Indo-Pacific nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia. “Recognizing the links between major threats to global security, he’s improved the alliance’s engagement with critical Indo-Pacific nations like Japan, South Korea, and Australia.”

McConnell also mentioned Stoltenberg's recent statements about China: “Just yesterday, he led allies in making clear that China is the ‘decisive enabler’ of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and that the PRC ‘cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation.’”

He praised Stoltenberg for expanding NATO by welcoming Sweden and Finland: “He’s successfully expanded NATO, most recently welcoming Sweden and Finland as highly-capable additions to our ranks.”

McConnell emphasized Stoltenberg's advocacy for collective defense amid Russian aggression: “And in the face of Russian aggression, the Secretary General has been an extraordinarily effective advocate and spokesman for collective defense, rallying renewed investment from allies and leading the most significant NATO rearmament since the Cold War.”

The Senator acknowledged Stoltenberg's understanding of America's concerns about burden-sharing within NATO: “As he navigated the predictably diverse and spirited views of dozens of allies, the Secretary General demonstrated a keen appreciation for America’s legitimate, longstanding, and bipartisan concerns about burden-sharing across the alliance, and has repeatedly urged allies to take on more of the responsibility of our shared security.”

On a personal note, McConnell expressed gratitude for his working relationship with Stoltenberg: “On a personal note, I’m immensely grateful for the time the Secretary General and I have spent working closely together. I’ve appreciated his candor, his professionalism, and his devotion to our common cause."

McConnell concluded by expressing optimism about Stoltenberg's legacy: "As he departs his post, Secretary General Stoltenberg should take great pride in the historic accomplishments of his tenure and remain optimistic, as I am, in the course he’s set for the alliance. He has the gratitude of allies and partners across the free world. And he’ll leave big shoes for his successor Mark Rutte to fill."