NATO Chief hails India as 'Pivotal Player', says looking forward to strengthening partnership
14 Apr 2021 15:10:25
New Delhi, April 14: North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg praised India saying, the country is a 'Pivotal Player' in the indo-pacific region. He made this statement while addressing the annual Raisina Dialogue organized by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation.
He said, “India is a pivotal player in the Indo-Pacific region; and an important and active international actor.”
He also added India shares many security challenges with the world body. "India and NATO share several security challenges from Afghanistan, international terrorism, and maritime security. NATO and India should consult, coordinate and take concerted action together. India truly matters on the global scene.” said secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg.
He also remarked that India is the largest troop contributor, "important, and active international actor" to UN's peacekeeping missions. He added, currently, India is also a member of the UN Security Council. India will hold the G20 presidency in 2023, so India truly matters on the global scene.”
Secretary-General Stoltenberg also highlighted that “for seventy years, NATO has deterred aggression and secured peace across the Euro-Atlantic area; and it has been a pillar of the international order based on the respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”The secretary-general went on expressing NATO's thoughts of strengthening partnership with India.
"The worth of strengthening our partnership with like-minded democracies such as India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, that stand up for the rules-based international order,” added Jens Stoltenberg.
NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 European and North American countries.
Moreover, Stoltenberg reminded that while security challenges on an international level are there it cannot be ignored that the rise of China is a global issue. This problem has implications all over the world. He further talked about the threats imposed by China. He also claimed that China is trying to challenge the rules-based international order.
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