Stoltenberg emphasised NATO's importance in preserving peace during the post-World War II era. Stoltenberg also noted that “questions are being asked on both sides of the Atlantic about the strengthening of our [NATO] partnership” and urged members to increase defence spending.
“In an ideal world, we would not need to spend any money on defence, but we do not live in an ideal world,” he said. “Hitler could not have been stopped with peaceful protest. Stalin could not have been deterred with words. ISIS* could not have been defeated with dialogue.”
The preservation of world peace became one of the pillars of the United Nations, the organisation which was founded four years prior to NATO by members of the Allied Forces. The draft "Declaration of United Nations" declaring world peace as the main principle of the post-World War II era was signed even earlier in 1942 by 26 countries, while the founding proposals of the organisation were worked out by representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks in August-October 1944.
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In his speech, the NATO chief added that “there are differences,” over trade, energy, climate change policy, the Iran nuclear agreement and burden sharing among NATO allies – issues raised earlier by Trump during the meeting in the White House.
The NATO meeting coincides with the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the alliance. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, an intergovernmental military bloc, was created in 1949 by 12 countries.
*Daesh, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Islamic State is a terror organisation banned in Russia, US and many other countries.