NATO facing most 'complex security' environment in its history
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance is currently facing the most "complex security" environment in its history as divisions widen between the member states.
Stoltenberg made the comment on Monday as he was speaking in Kuwait to mark 15 years of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), which was launched by NATO to boost security links with the Middle East.
"In all these years, NATO has never experienced a more complex security environment than it does today," Stoltenberg said.
"To maintain our security, we need to be agile and prepared to respond to threats coming from all directions — from land, sea, air, space and cyberspace — also from state and non-state actors."
Launched at the NATO summit in the Turkish city in June 2004, the ICI aims to contribute to long-term global and regional security by offering countries of the broader Middle East region practical bilateral security cooperation with NATO.
"We must continue to fight terrorism. NATO plays a key role in this fight, working with our partners around the world to train local forces," said Stoltenberg. “All NATO allies as well as NATO itself are part of the US-led global coalition against Daesh.”
Earlier this month, NATO leaders gathered in London for a summit marking the 70th anniversary of the 29-member military alliance amid disagreements over several issues, including defense spending and alleged threats from Russia and China.
Leaders clashed over personality and policy, with US President Donald Trump calling Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "two-faced" after a group of allied leaders were caught on video mocking his press appearances.
Trump has been a fierce NATO critic, mostly accusing other military alliance members of not paying their “fair share.”
Moreover, France's President Emmanuel Macron had before the summit branded the US-led military alliance "brain dead" and called for a new strategy by reopening a dialogue with Russia and refocusing on the fight against terrorism.
Macron also said Europe was strong enough to defend itself without help from the US.
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