WEBVTT 00:00.260 --> 00:03.710 - So, we're coming out of Croatia, out of Zagreb. 00:03.710 --> 00:07.980 I would just tell you that if you want to see the success 00:07.980 --> 00:09.530 of the summit manifesting, 00:09.530 --> 00:12.070 I think you sensed it there 00:12.070 --> 00:14.160 because the reason I wanted to come here 00:14.160 --> 00:16.830 was I'd be able to talk to a number of NATO nations 00:16.830 --> 00:21.120 and NATO-aspiring nations, you know that Macedonia 00:21.120 --> 00:26.120 was just opened to begin its accession program. 00:26.240 --> 00:29.190 And so when you get a number together like that 00:29.190 --> 00:32.940 you also hear the exchanges between nations 00:32.940 --> 00:37.380 and it's much less scripted than when we have 29 nations 00:37.380 --> 00:39.590 where everyone's got to be given a chance. 00:39.590 --> 00:42.960 So we're down to these nations that were there today 00:42.960 --> 00:46.520 that you saw in front of you plus my contact 00:46.520 --> 00:51.010 with both the Croatians and the Montenegrins 00:51.010 --> 00:52.370 because they were the co-hosts. 00:52.370 --> 00:55.410 One was physically hosting because it was the national day 00:55.410 --> 00:58.883 like our July 4th day in Montenegro. 01:00.050 --> 01:04.520 In the bilaterals themselves, these are two nations 01:04.520 --> 01:07.850 that know what it's like to be small and vulnerable, 01:07.850 --> 01:10.690 to have to fight for your freedom, to try and be part 01:10.690 --> 01:13.740 of something larger where they gain strength. 01:13.740 --> 01:17.540 And it's a classic case of we're stronger together 01:18.400 --> 01:22.380 in defense of democracy, of human rights, 01:22.380 --> 01:23.733 of international law. 01:25.120 --> 01:27.960 The commitment to 2% spending is a given. 01:27.960 --> 01:31.940 I think the very hearty discussion yesterday 01:32.970 --> 01:37.740 at Brussels was very helpful, and you hear from 01:37.740 --> 01:39.500 a number of nations how the respond, 01:39.500 --> 01:42.860 but it was interesting to hear it there in terms of 01:42.860 --> 01:46.853 what they see it doing for the protection of their values. 01:47.710 --> 01:51.300 It was the A5, the US-Adriatic Charter. 01:51.300 --> 01:56.300 The A5 started out as, you know, 15 years ago as the A3. 01:56.420 --> 01:58.540 Two of the three nations are now in NATO, 01:58.540 --> 02:02.740 the other one was granted a path forward into NATO. 02:02.740 --> 02:05.430 So what you see, too, is something that has an output. 02:05.430 --> 02:07.710 It's not just getting together for meetings, 02:07.710 --> 02:11.060 you see it resulting in something that brings nations in 02:11.060 --> 02:13.420 to an international organization that's considered 02:13.420 --> 02:16.140 the strongest in the world when it comes to 02:17.030 --> 02:19.143 defense and security. 02:20.250 --> 02:21.620 We're now at A5. 02:21.620 --> 02:26.620 It was interesting, I found there, there was so much, 02:26.800 --> 02:29.430 they all have little issues between them, as neighbors, do. 02:29.430 --> 02:31.840 Hey, we have issues between us and Canada, 02:31.840 --> 02:33.340 or us and Mexico. 02:33.340 --> 02:36.200 But the issues they had between them did not stop them 02:36.200 --> 02:39.360 from saying we ought to expand this more widely 02:39.360 --> 02:44.120 in the western, southeastern Europe, Western Balkans. 02:44.120 --> 02:48.420 So I think it's as Vice President Pence said last time, 02:48.420 --> 02:50.913 again, this is a continuity of effort. 02:51.930 --> 02:54.410 Vice President Pence said it's a testament to the US 02:54.410 --> 02:56.393 commitment to Western Balkans. 02:57.600 --> 02:59.810 It's got a very unique role, though, I think, 02:59.810 --> 03:02.860 in fostering stability in what has historically been 03:02.860 --> 03:04.133 an unstable area, 03:05.200 --> 03:08.820 and right now the US supports each of these countries' 03:08.820 --> 03:11.430 chosen path wherever they want to go. 03:11.430 --> 03:14.172 If they think it's NATO, if they think it's EU, 03:14.172 --> 03:16.373 most of them think it's both, by the way. 03:17.740 --> 03:20.073 And so good track records out of there. 03:21.680 --> 03:24.580 I would just tell you that Montenegro took over 03:24.580 --> 03:29.580 in February, I think, as the chair of the A5, 03:29.780 --> 03:34.663 and bottom line is, you need some water there, partner? 03:35.640 --> 03:37.550 Okay, there we go. 03:37.550 --> 03:39.023 Yeah, no problem. 03:40.580 --> 03:43.110 Bottom line is, it was very, very successful 03:43.110 --> 03:47.050 all the way through the lunch, and to gain over the lunch 03:47.050 --> 03:49.490 to gain a lot of different perspectives. 03:49.490 --> 03:52.710 We had hour and a half there just to talk. 03:52.710 --> 03:54.290 So it was productive. 03:54.290 --> 03:55.470 I met with the president. 03:55.470 --> 03:57.540 I think you all, were you all there when we met 03:57.540 --> 03:58.373 with the president? 03:58.373 --> 03:59.640 You at least got the pictures? 04:01.740 --> 04:03.180 Was very good discussion. 04:03.180 --> 04:04.910 I'll just leave it at very productive. 04:04.910 --> 04:08.472 It was more summing up of what is already in motion 04:08.472 --> 04:09.813 and clarifying and confirming. 04:10.783 --> 04:12.100 Clarifying the issues, 04:12.100 --> 04:16.553 confirming the way ahead between us and Croatia. 04:17.810 --> 04:21.930 So I also just heard about this story 04:21.930 --> 04:24.363 that the Pentagon's in damage control. 04:25.263 --> 04:26.410 That was fascinating. 04:26.410 --> 04:28.390 I love reading fiction. 04:28.390 --> 04:31.960 So it was stimulating to read it and find out 04:31.960 --> 04:34.700 while I've been with you with full transparency 04:34.700 --> 04:37.820 on the airplane, you watching what's going on, 04:37.820 --> 04:40.200 that I've been in damage control. 04:40.200 --> 04:42.200 I must tell you it must have been the most pleasant 04:42.200 --> 04:45.920 damage control in the A5 I ever could have imagined 04:45.920 --> 04:48.800 with the level of unity of purpose 04:48.800 --> 04:50.580 that we experienced there. 04:50.580 --> 04:54.420 So anyway, people are entitled to their own opinion 04:54.420 --> 04:56.360 even if it's not facts-based. 04:56.360 --> 04:58.590 Let's shift over quickly to some questions. 04:58.590 --> 05:01.390 I want to make sure we give you some time 05:01.390 --> 05:03.210 for a couple questions of the record, then we'll go quickly 05:03.210 --> 05:05.899 off the record, and it's gonna be quick. 05:05.899 --> 05:06.954 Go ahead, Phil. 05:06.954 --> 05:09.320 - [Phil] One thing, when you were at the meeting 05:09.320 --> 05:12.830 with the Croatian president, I think we overheard 05:12.830 --> 05:14.240 someone asking you about the summit, 05:14.240 --> 05:16.280 and you said that it was a very honest summit. 05:16.280 --> 05:19.830 So I'm wondering how NATO summit itself factored in 05:19.830 --> 05:21.780 to the A5 discussions. 05:21.780 --> 05:24.030 What were the main concerns that were expressed there 05:24.030 --> 05:26.933 about Russia, and then how is your trip to Norway, 05:27.940 --> 05:28.773 you know, obviously-- 05:28.773 --> 05:30.280 - Slow down, now, let me keep track of everything. 05:30.280 --> 05:31.113 Ask me that one in a minute. 05:31.113 --> 05:34.490 First of all, on the summit itself, 05:34.490 --> 05:37.460 I think the very fact that people stopped going 05:37.460 --> 05:42.460 just through a set timeline and stopped to actually 05:43.340 --> 05:47.250 talk about fundamental issues, levels of commitment 05:47.250 --> 05:52.100 of national treasury, of commitments of forces. 05:52.100 --> 05:55.470 What happens, it has, it's almost like 05:55.470 --> 05:59.110 it washes away all the veneer and people really talk 05:59.110 --> 06:00.820 about where they stand. 06:00.820 --> 06:03.590 So in there today was a sense of 06:06.360 --> 06:10.920 a clear sense of purpose why joining NATO 06:10.920 --> 06:14.020 has been good for Croatia. 06:14.020 --> 06:15.340 Why it was been good. 06:15.340 --> 06:17.940 Number 29, when we say NATO at 29, 06:17.940 --> 06:21.623 you're talking about Montenegro, that's NATO at 29. 06:21.623 --> 06:23.610 It's the 29th nation. 06:23.610 --> 06:26.300 And to see the confidence that they have 06:26.300 --> 06:29.630 from a NATO that is that open in discussion, 06:29.630 --> 06:31.900 and honest in discussion. 06:31.900 --> 06:36.900 So I'd say the summit was purposeful in what it gave NATO. 06:37.820 --> 06:41.280 It gave a sense of shared purpose that needed 06:41.280 --> 06:45.244 to be, it needs to be refreshed in any organization. 06:45.244 --> 06:46.618 What was the next question about? 06:46.618 --> 06:47.791 - [Phil] It was about Russia. 06:47.791 --> 06:50.623 It was about the highest the Montenegro, 06:50.623 --> 06:54.260 the Macedonian defense minister, what she thought 06:54.260 --> 06:58.239 of Russia trying to interfere with their accession. 06:58.239 --> 07:01.000 She obviously raised her concerns. 07:01.000 --> 07:03.744 So how does Russia factor in your discussions? 07:03.744 --> 07:06.120 In know in open conference you can talk about it. 07:06.120 --> 07:06.953 - Yeah. 07:08.190 --> 07:09.970 Russia factors in 07:12.610 --> 07:17.610 in the southeastern Europe area as a destabilizing element. 07:18.960 --> 07:20.610 They have chosen to come in 07:21.750 --> 07:25.910 and to undermine the democratic fabric 07:25.910 --> 07:30.392 of nations that are young in their democratic processes, 07:30.392 --> 07:35.392 that have been freed as nations in recent times, 07:37.410 --> 07:42.410 and whether through false news reporting, 07:42.780 --> 07:46.493 economic strictures, and interventions, 07:47.450 --> 07:49.270 they are not seen as helpful, 07:49.270 --> 07:52.620 would be probably the most polite way to describe it. 07:52.620 --> 07:54.000 Anything else? 07:54.000 --> 07:57.750 - [Reporter] Did any of the attendees today at the meeting 07:57.750 --> 08:01.283 did they ask you for any assistance in dealing with Russia? 08:02.440 --> 08:05.840 - What we discussed today was where we clarified 08:05.840 --> 08:07.513 where everyone wanted to go. 08:09.310 --> 08:12.110 It was, again, a great deal of shared purpose 08:12.110 --> 08:17.110 I think buoyed up by the summit, and the sense of purpose 08:18.130 --> 08:19.590 coming out of there. 08:19.590 --> 08:24.560 And then where we can work together on a number of 08:24.560 --> 08:26.590 NATO initiatives that are ongoing, 08:26.590 --> 08:28.600 and bilateral initiatives, 08:28.600 --> 08:33.190 from re-armaments and national commitments that this 08:33.190 --> 08:37.160 is the 2%, of course, coming out where they're building up 08:37.160 --> 08:41.090 their defenses to make them fit for a time when they have, 08:41.090 --> 08:43.386 for example, both a threat from the south 08:43.386 --> 08:45.440 and a threat from the east, 08:45.440 --> 08:48.270 most of the threat from the east being hybrid, 08:48.270 --> 08:51.920 not being a direct military threat, of course. 08:51.920 --> 08:53.371 So it's along those lines. 08:53.371 --> 08:54.544 - [Reporter] Did you learn anything about the threat 08:54.544 --> 08:55.877 you didn't know? 08:56.890 --> 09:00.840 - It was more clarifying to hear it from their perspective 09:00.840 --> 09:04.520 and clarifying that what we've all been sharing 09:04.520 --> 09:09.053 in NATO is keenly felt in southeastern Europe.