Well, good morning, and thanks for coming out early on a monday morning. And thank you to joel for that lovely introduction. It is a real pleasure and an honor to open this conference, nato at 75, charting a new course that im very much looking for to your questions in the few minutes. For threequarters of a century nato has been a cornerstone of International Peace and security, United Nations in a collective commitment to mutual defense, and to our shared values. Natos Success Story really is remarkable, and its one that was by no means preordained. The fact that in 2024, 75 years after it was founded, the alliance is bigger, stronger, and more united speaks to the alliances adaptability. It speaks to natos resilience. But it also speaks to the commitment and the courage of millions of soldiers, sailors, aviators and operate together under the nato umbrella. But i think it also speaks to the attractiveness of natos core values, democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. Now,
Conference, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Thank you for that introduction and thank you for always being there for me. My wife, truly the best longterm decision for a Brighter Future i ever made. [laughing] [applause] i have been blessed in my life. I had a wonderful wife and two daughters who make me proud every single day. And i was also lucky enough to grow up in the most loving of homes. My dad was a gp and my mom a pharmacist. [laughing] you didnt need a small reminder plus some i know. So many ways i wouldnt be standing or before you today without them. My mom and dad were and are my inspiration. Thank you mom. Thank you dad. [applause] like so many of us in the salt they are just the importance of community and make sure that i did, too. They didnt believe community was some extension of government, rather they interested community is sustained by individuals. By those to look out for their neighbor, treat others as they would like to be treated. They und
Well, good morning, and thanks for coming out early on a monday morning. And thank you to joel for that lovely introduction. It is a real pleasure and an honor to open this conference, nato at 75, charting a new course that im very much looking for to your questions in the few minutes. For threequarters of a century nato has been a cornerstone of International Peace and security, United Nations in a collective commitment to mutual defense, and to our shared values. Natos Success Story really is remarkable, and its one that was by no means preordained. The fact that in 2024, 75 years after it was founded, the alliance is bigger, stronger, and more united speaks to the alliances adaptability. It speaks to natos resilience. But it also speaks to the commitment and the courage of millions of soldiers, sailors, aviators and operate together under the nato umbrella. But i think it also speaks to the attractiveness of natos core values, democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. Now,
Please note that i will moderate those questions and call o journalists. Due to time constraints, please limith followup questions to give your colleagues a chance to ask questions. Secretary austin, over to you, sir. The speaker thanks. Good afternoon, everybody, and th general brown and i have just come from a meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Im grateful to the 50 from around the world that joined us again taythcontact gry from ukraines defense leaders, including the minister. They gave a valuable update on ukraines defensive operations across the front line, including the new russian offensive. We met today at a challenging moment. Putinsd another front ukrainian territory. The kremlins invaders are obliterating villages and bombarding civilian infrastructureg dams and power plants. Ukraines defenders are in a hard fight but Russian Troops are a high price for putins aggression. Putin is betting that eventually ukraine wi fold, and hes betting that this Contact Group will c
Well, good morning, and thanks for coming out early on a monday morning. And thank you to joel for that lovely introduction. It is a real pleasure and an honor to open this conference, nato at 75, charting a new course that im very much looking for to your questions in the few minutes. For threequarters of a century nato has been a cornerstone of International Peace and security, United Nations in a collective commitment to mutual defense, and to our shared values. Natos Success Story really is remarkable, and its one that was by no means preordained. The fact that in 2024, 75 years after it was founded, the alliance is bigger, stronger, and more united speaks to the alliances adaptability. It speaks to natos resilience. But it also speaks to the commitment and the courage of millions of soldiers, sailors, aviators and operate together under the nato umbrella. But i think it also speaks to the attractiveness of natos core values, democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. Now,