NATO Secretary General welcomes Dutch King Willem-Alexander to Alliance headquarters
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to NATO headquarters on Thursday (17 December 2015) where he attended a special session of the North Atlantic Council to discuss issues on the Alliance’s security agenda.
Mr. Stoltenberg, thanked the Netherlands for its continued active role in the Alliance saying it was more important than ever. “This is a critical time for our nations. A time when the entire European security order, and the core values that underpin our democratic societies are being challenged. We need a strong, capable NATO to ensure our common security. Allies such as the Netherlands are essential to the effectiveness of this Alliance, politically and militarily,” he said.
The King, joined by the Secretary General, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders and Dutch Chief of Defence Gen. Tom Middendorp, laid a wreath at the NATO Memorial to the Fallen at the start of his visit. Afterwards the Secretary General held a bilateral meeting with the King before chairing a meeting with the 28 Ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council.
The King will also visit the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, SHAPE, in Mons where he will meet with senior military commanders, including Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR, Gen. Philip Breedlove.