By Agnes Szucs
BRUSSELS (AA) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and top EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel on Friday called to strengthen ties between the European bloc and the US.
Speaking from Brussels to take part virtually in the Munich Security Conference, an annual meeting of global leaders on international security policy, the three leaders welcomed new US President Joe Biden and appealed for the opening of a new chapter in transatlantic relations.
"We must reinforce our unity. That unity derives from our promise to defend each other," Jens Stoltenberg said at the conference.
The NATO secretary-general urged Biden and European leaders to take advantage of the current "historic opportunity" to "regain trust and reinforce unity" after "differences between Europe and North America."
Stoltenberg also pointed out that military alliances needed to widen their conception of security as such events as climate change and the novel coronavirus pandemic have shown the importance of resilience.
According to the NATO chief, the alliance should act against climate change by reducing the emissions of military operations and their dependence on fossil fuels.
"Security and climate go hand in hand," he underlined.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, also invited the US to partner with the EU in the fight against climate change.
She expressed hope that Washington would follow the bloc's example and commit to becoming climate neutral by 2050.
"I'm sure a share transatlantic commitment to a net-zero-emissions pathway by 2050 would make climate neutrality a new global benchmark," she said.
For his part, European Council President Charles Michel underlined: "We want to build back a better, fairer and greener world, for all."
According to Michel, the EU and US will now have "greater influence to promote democracy and drive forward our economies."
"Together, we are stronger to defend the rules-based international order from the attacks of autocratic regimes, whether from Russia, China, or Iran. And we are stronger to ensure peace, and security," he added.