Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Germany’s Post

NATO general secretary in Sweden - Stronger and safer Three months after the Swedish Accession to NATO in March, our beloved Norwegian brother, Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, visits Sweden at the Berga naval base outside Stockholm, after singing "Du Gamla Du fria", in Stockholm - the "You old and you free", the Swedish National anthem on the National Day. Everything can happen between old rivals, also our songs. We are - and remain - together! Freedom is everything we share as the Secretary remarked. As the prime ministers of two neighbouring - sister - countries - and the now Secretary General of NATO, stated in common and in common languages we all understand: Now NATO is stronger and Sweden is safer or vice versa! - ttps://youtu.be/e6hvzLL-RCE

Leave official language to the NATO Summit Declaration and the Communique. NATO’s Public Forum presentations came straight from the heart: Estonia 🇪🇪 Prime Minister Kaja Kallas “There are no first or second tier countries. If Putin attacks Estonia, he attacks NATO.” Denmark 🇩🇰 Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen “Doing the right thing is never difficult. Our entire artillary is better used in Ukraine than at home in Denmark.” 🇺🇸 Senator James Risch “NATO is formed for the exact circumstances we find ourselves in today. The war with Russia is a warmup for this century….The autocracies will not change what they think is best for their people. And democracies will not change what they think is best for their people.” Atlantic Council Atlantic Treaty Association Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Hudson Institute German Marshall Fund of the United States GLOBSEC Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) European External Action Service U.S. Department of State #natosweden #natodenmark #natoczechrepublic #nato #wearenato #natopublicforum2024 #NATOPublicForum

Dear Jens Stoltenberg has been in the NATO club since 2014. He’s a cool guy, definitely has been instrumental navigating the Alliance through several crises, especially the current one in Ukraine which has led to his extension. He, of course, wants and needs to retry. We need new thinking in NATO for the new age to and someone who can lead the Alliance beyond the #MadridStrategicConcept. During my Analyst days at NATO, there has been some chatter around the house who would be the new SG, nothing formalised, I wouldn’t share that intel, of course 😉 Anyway, some ideas were about having Theresa May, definitely not, she lacks total charisma or competence, or even my dear Klaus Iohannis, yeah…So the list of ideas being spitballed wasn’t great, yet one idea stood amongst the rest: Kaja Kallas. I took a step nack and thought about it, and thought more about it, days, months and years have past and I couldn’t stop thinking what a great SG she would truly be. These are my thoughts: As of my last update in January 2022, I don't have specific information about Kaja Kalas being considered a candidate for the NATO Secretary General position. However, in general, the top reasons someone might be suitable for this role include: 🔵 International Diplomacy: Extensive experience and success in international diplomacy and negotiations. 🔵 Strategic Leadership: Proven track record in strategic leadership within the political or diplomatic sphere. 🔵 Conflict Resolution Skills: Demonstrated ability in conflict resolution and crisis management. 🔵 Understanding of Security Issues: In-depth knowledge of security matters and global geopolitical challenges. 🔵 Coalition Building: Strong capability in building alliances and partnerships among NATO member states. 🔵 Effective Communication: Exceptional communication skills, essential for dealing with diverse member nations and the media. 🔵 Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to adapt to rapidly changing global situations and complex political landscapes. 🔵 Commitment to NATO Principles: A firm commitment to NATO's core principles and objectives. 🔵 Vision for Future Challenges: Ability to foresee and address future challenges to NATO's role in global security. 🔵 Reputation and Trust: A respected figure in the international community with a history of trust and reliability. So yeah, if you agree, let’s make this happen. Not sure, exactly, what deals are done behind closed doors but we need dear Kaja more than ever now, if she wants the job, of course. Let’s also not forget how awesome she is being a #NAFO Fella 🫡 #Kaja4SG #StrongerTogether

This shouldn’t have been an issue. I don’t know how Prime Minister Orban felt entitled to go against the interests of NATO, the EU, and Ukraine. It’s hypocritical to insult the rules based liberal order, and EU meddling, but then take billions of Euros to prop up his country. It’s also hypocritical to delay NATO decisions like this, and hold back aid for Ukraine, given NATO protects Hungary from potential Russian aggression. It’s almost like Orban, and much of the Hungarian elite, forget the 45 years of Russian domination and oppression of their country in the Cold War. Now he sympathizes with Putin’s aggression over Ukraine, rather than the Ukrainians who are suffering every day? I know the EU is about concensus, and respecting every nation’s sovereignty. But maybe a small nation like Hungary, that offers NATO little military power, and represents maybe 1% of the EU’s economy, shouldn’t be undermining Ukraine, NATO, and European security. I mean no disrespect to Hungary, but politicians like Orban who play games with life and death issues like this, for the sake of petty domestic politics, belong to the ash heap of history. #nato #sweden

This significant development underscores the ongoing geopolitical shifts in Europe amidst Russia's war on Ukraine. Hungary's decision to allow Sweden to join NATO not only reflects a strengthening of the international alliance 🌍🤝 but also sends a clear message of solidarity in the face of aggression. As tensions continue to escalate in the region, such alliances become crucial for promoting stability and security.

On this day in 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland, despite the 1932 Finnish-Soviet non-aggression pact. After the partition of Poland, the Soviet Union aimed to shift its border westward and gain control of Finnish islands and a naval base at Hanko. Despite initial Finnish resistance, the Red Army eventually gained the upper hand with reorganization, modernization, and changed tactics. The Finnish Army, lacking significant external support, succumbed by early February 1940, signing the Treaty of Moscow on March 12, 1940, ceding 11 percent of its territory to the Soviet Union. Interesting fact: Attributing the outbreak of the Russo-Finnish War to Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, the Finns named an improvised incendiary grenade after him. The ‘Molotov Cocktail,’ while primitive, demonstrated its effectiveness as an anti-tank weapon against Soviet forces. The image is sourced from the Finnish Wartime Photograph Archive. #history #militaryhistory #molotovcocktail #WeRemember #abmf #theydied4us

Mark has stiff-spine issues. Kaja — like Athena— has sprung fully-formed from the head of a wise and understanding family, a dismal Soviet-oppressed childhood, and the most splendid education-by-experience and dialog of ANY modern EU leader. If it were within my power, she’d get the job in an instant. What the hell—if it were within my power (constitutional circumstances notwithstanding), she’d magically become President of the US. That’s how good she is. She’s like the Caitlyn Clark of #geopolitics, #geostrat, of #wisdom and intellectual prowess, of practical #experience, of dialog and #persuasion — and most of all, of #leadership, #probity, and making the right call. In the coming #worldwar3 , we’ll absolutely want Kaja as head of #NATO #eurosecurity #globalsecurity #nationalsecurity #wariscoming #chooseKaja

NATO's current strategy of increasing tensions through support for Ukraine, including financial aid and military resources, risks a critical escalation with Russia. This approach, which pits Ukrainian and Russian lives against each other, could provoke a significant Russian response, especially given Russia's view of being targeted in a series of unjust conflicts, similar to Iraq, Syria, or Libya. Underestimating Russia, particularly with the possibility of more aggressive future leadership like other militaristic leaders have demonstrated: Zhirinovsky or Pregozhin for example. Such leaders are ready to fill the vacuum in place of Putin, having strong domestic and international support because many view Nato and the US as serial instigators of unjust wars. This path towards confrontation benefits neither NATO, the US, the EU, nor global stability. The only beneficiaries are weapons profiteers and that is only a short term gambit that carries unacceptable risks. The problem is therefore two-fold: The lack of diplomatic efforts and the influence of military contractors in Western decision-making are exacerbating the situation, pushing us closer to a point of no return. At some point there won't be room for de-escalation. Indeed, what is the logic for steady NATO escalation against Russia since 1991? For 33 years there has been continued encorachments and war funding to proxies like Georgia, Chechnya and Ukraine. It isn't working. It is time for the west to try at least once concerning Russia, the art of diplomacy and to de-escilate and to practice representational government.

The US can achieve hegemony in Europe via NATO, and do the same in the Indo-Pacific region through AUKUS, thus maintaining global hegemony, opines Chinese military affairs commentator Song Zhongping. #AUKUS #China #USA #UK #Australia #NATO