PM statement to leaders at NATO Summit in Lithuania: 12 July 2023
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's press statement at NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
This summit stands out as a landmark in NATO바카라 사이트檚 long history.
We arrived here faced with a more volatile and dangerous world바카라 사이트�
A mechanised war in Europe on a scale not seen since 1945바카라 사이트�
And increasing aggression from authoritarian states, challenging our security in Europe and beyond.
But as we leave Vilnius, we are more confident and more united than ever.
Let me set out three reasons why that바카라 사이트檚 the case.
First, we바카라 사이트檝e acted decisively to strengthen this alliance.
Agreeing the most fundamental transformation to NATO바카라 사이트檚 readiness since the Cold War바카라 사이트�
Comprehensive warfighting plans to defend the UK and its allies바카라 사이트�
Scaled up defence production to boost our stockpiles, which will benefit British industry바카라 사이트�
And increased defence spending바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ith all allies now committed to hitting the 2% target.
And we did something here in Vilnius that not long ago seemed impossible바카라 사이트�
We welcomed Finland to the table as a NATO member바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트�.and very soon we바카라 사이트檒l be doing the same with Sweden.
We are stronger with them by our side바카라 사이트� and in time we will be stronger with Ukraine as a NATO ally too.
This is my second point바카라 사이트�
It is now over 500 days since Russia바카라 사이트檚 invasion.
500 days of barbarity.
Of innocent people being murdered in their homes.
Of children being killed, abducted and used as human shields.
I want to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people and to their incredible bravery and resilience.
They바카라 사이트檙e still standing strong and defiant바카라 사이트� and the counteroffensive is making progress.
In the last few weeks, they바카라 사이트檝e taken back more ground than Russia has taken in the last year.
We are standing with them바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd allies are doubling down in their support.
At the Munich Security Conference in February, I called for long-term security arrangements바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o protect Ukraine, break the cycle of Russian violence, and ultimately help to end this war.
And today we have delivered.
Together with our G7 partners we have agreed to provide the long-term bilateral security commitments that Ukraine needs.
These commitments mark a new high point in international support for Ukraine.
And I want to be clear, they are not a substitute for NATO membership.
The summit communique echoes the UK바카라 사이트檚 long-held position that 바카라 사이트淯kraine바카라 사이트檚 future is in NATO.바카라 사이트�
And we바카라 사이트檝e taken a big step this week towards bringing Ukraine into the alliance.
Together we바카라 사이트檝e shortened their path to membership바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트emoving the need for a Membership Action Plan바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd holding the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council with President Zelenskyy sitting at the table, by our side, as an equal.
Finally, I바카라 사이트榙 like to say a word about the UK바카라 사이트檚 role here.
I was struck once again this week by just how highly valued our contribution is.
The British people should know that 바카라 사이트� and they should be proud.
We are the leading European contributor to NATO.
We were one of the first to hit the 2% target and now we바카라 사이트檙e moving towards 2.5%.
We spend more than 20 other NATO countries combined, but it바카라 사이트檚 about much more than that.
It바카라 사이트檚 about our incredible Armed Forces across land, air and sea.
We바카라 사이트檙e one of the only countries that contributes to every NATO mission with RAF jets patrolling the eastern flank바카라 사이트�
Troops on the ground in Estonia and Poland as part of NATO바카라 사이트檚 enhanced forward presence바카라 사이트�
And the Royal Navy, including our two aircraft carriers, providing around a quarter of NATO바카라 사이트檚 maritime capability.
It바카라 사이트檚 about our deep partnerships바카라 사이트�
With Japan and Italy we바카라 사이트檙e producing a sixth-generation fighter through our Global Combat Air Program바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd with AUKUS, we바카라 사이트檙e working with Australia and the US to build some of the most advanced nuclear-powered submarines the world has ever known.
And it바카라 사이트檚 about leadership.
We바카라 사이트檝e led the way on Ukraine바카라 사이트� moving first on tanks and long-range missiles바카라 사이트� training their troops for the counter-offensive.
Just today I바카라 사이트檝e announced we바카라 사이트檙e providing more ammunition, 70 more combat vehicles, as well as a new rehabilitation centre for injured Ukrainian veterans.
We바카라 사이트檙e moving forward with the combat air coalition바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd the UK starts training Ukrainian pilots next month.
And we바카라 사이트檙e using our leadership in technology to keep NATO at the cutting edge바카라 사이트�
Hosting the European Headquarters of the Defence Innovation Accelerator in the UK바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd holding the first global summit on AI Safety later this year.
The UK has been there since the start of this alliance.
In 1948, in the hope of avoiding another devastating war, we joined together with a handful of allies바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o pledge that we would come to one another바카라 사이트檚 defence.
That pact was the seed of the North Atlantic Treaty.
75 years later, faced with new threats in Europe, NATO is more important than ever.
It has proved itself to be the most successful Alliance in history바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd this week we바카라 사이트檝e shown once again that the UK is at its heart.
Thank you.