Does the anti-American sentiment worldwide have a negative impact on NATO's image, especially when the coalition itself claims to be under the leadership of the United States?
Yannes Staltenbarg: We saw this kind of attitude during the Vietnam War. And in 2003 after the Iraq war, this attitude was seen among the people. There are differences in opinions of some American countries with European friends, such as trade, climate change and nuclear disarmament for Iran. On the other hand, we also saw NATO as its main task - it can combine all to defend itself and protect each other. We see that their presence in Europe for the first time since the end of the Cold War in the Americas has increased greatly.
Survey shows that there has been concern about the safety of the general public in Europe, which was not even a decade ago. A new study says the Germans are very scared of terrorism and political extremism. How do you see the support for NATO among Europeans?
We believe that support for NATO is increasing in Europe and the United States. And it is also true that NATO's rationality is increasing day by day in the face of new challenges and threats.
US President Donald Trump calls NATO a standalone organization In a recent lecture, he has claimed that the United States gives almost all of NATO costs. How do you see the criticism of trumps?
This is the fact that Donald Trump told NATO a stand-out organization, but it was before he was elected president. But later when I went to the White House to meet with him, he said that NATO is no longer a standalone organization. The fact is that he intends to strengthen trans-Atlantic solidarity and to strengthen Europe's security, his goal. He understands a little bit that the allies of Europe are increasingly spending the defense sector and NATO is playing a huge role in fighting terrorism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said about the progress of creating new nuclear weapons in a speech to the nation. He said that the West failed to 'hold' Russia. Do you think the weapons he's saying are true?
I'm not going to describe the specific kind of intelligence about the Russian arms. But Moscow is increasing its military strength. They are also investing in conventional warfare as well as creating nuclear weapons. As a result, the probability that they will not use nuclear weapons is decreasing. It is important to have the power to ignore this issue. Coordinated with NATO, emphasized the need to further strengthen joint military power. We are moving forward to keep the army strong, and we have continued to recruit army in the east of the alliance.
Particularly on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in Poland and the Black Sea areas. We want to tell any possible opponent, we are ready to give security to any of our allies at any time. Its main reason not to create conflicts with provocation, but to maintain peace.
Do you have any specific steps against Putin's challenge?
We are not responding to the tanks instead of tanks, missiles, or atomic weapons against nuclear weapons. But we want to make sure NATO is able to adapt to the situation. When he sees that Russia is constantly creating modern warfare and attacking its neighboring countries. We saw it in Georgia, seen in Ukraine. There is a soldier in Moscow without the permission of the government of Moldova. This type has been built slowly for a long time and now is the time to respond. We do not want a new Cold War.We do not want to fight arms or tear up Russia. Russia is our neighbor, Russia will be there. And so, NATO sees it as an attempt to balance it. The strategy that we call together is called 'defense and dialogue'.
The name of Ukraine and Georgia has been mentioned. Do you think they have the opportunity to join NATO?
We respect their desire to join the Trans-Atlantic Alliance. NATO-affiliated 29 member states together decide on the membership of these two countries. It is not like this, if anyone wishes to vow, or if they want, they will vomit nose. It is not acceptable in any way that big powers like Russia will influence them and force them to force themselves to say what they should say, and what not!