U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Discusses China, Turkey, NATO, Iran at Brussels Event Hosted by the German Marshall Fund
Video and Transcript Now Available - Links Below
Esper: “In the long term, China is the far greater challenge that we face, not Russia.”
Video and Transcript Now Available - Links Below
Brussels (October 24, 2019)— At an event hosted by the German Marshall Fund this morning, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper reaffirmed US commitments to NATO while urging members to contribute more, warned of the long-term strategic challenges posed by China, discussed US Middle East policy, and commented on Turkey’s relations with NATO and the US, among other topics.
“Turkey put us all in a very terrible situation… I think the incursion was unwarranted,” Esper said when asked about Turkey’s recent incursion into Syria. “The direction of Turkey with regard to [NATO] is heading in the wrong direction on any number of issues: we see them spinning closer into Russia’s orbit than in the Western-Europe orbit… we all need to work together to strengthen our partnership with Turkey and make sure they trend back to being the strong, reliable ally… they’ve been in the past.”
On Russia and China, Esper said: “Their malign behavior, combined with aggressive military modernization programs, puts the international security environment on a trajectory that should concern all free nations.”
At the morning event, Secretary Esper delivered remarks followed by a sit down conversation with GMF’s Vice President of Foreign Policy Ian Lesser.
Video and transcript are now available at the links below. Select excerpts from the speech and conversation can also be found below. Please note some excerpts below have been shortened, please consult the transcript for the complete language.
####
Links:
- Video: : http://www.gmfus.org/events/us-defense-policy-and-nato-way-forward-conversation-mark-t-esper-us-secretary-defense
- Transcript: http://www.gmfus.org/press-releases/transcript-us-secretary-defense-mark-esper-speaks-gmf
Select Excerpts:
On China:
“Today, China and Russia, nations with a view of the world very different than our own, are using their power to coercively alter the strategic environment. And they are doing so in a way that uses [the international rules-based order] against us.”
“Even developed nations fear China’s growing leverage, which not only impacts their economic and political decisions, but perhaps worse, leads them to make sub-optimal security choices. I would caution my friends in Europe against adopting the mindset that American concerns about Chinese economic and military expansion are overstated or not relevant to their national security. The PRC’s influence is rapidly expanding… our security must not be diminished by a short and narrow-sighted focus on economic opportunity.”
“The US is not asking nations to choose between China and the rest of the world. But we are asking them to pursue a future that supports democracy… All countries must enter their relationship with the PRC with eyes wide open.”
“China is going to be a long-term strategic challenge for us… That’s what we all need to be concerned about as we head into the 2020s and beyond.”
On NATO + European Defense:
“The US commitment to NATO and Article 5 is ironclad. However, for the alliance to remain strong, every member must contribute its fair share… This means not only contributing to the important NATO security missions around the world today but also making sufficient investments towards the capabilities needed to deter our potential adversaries tomorrow.”
“There are a lot of concerns by the U.S. and other non-EU partners about the direction of PESCO and that it may foreclose opportunities for U.S. and our companies to participate in that regime. That concerns us-- we think it is heading in the wrong direction. Again, we think the marketplace should be kept open. We should continue to collaborate and cooperate with one another and that’s our view-- to keep that market open so we can optimize our security needs.”
On Iran:
“Our commitment to the Saudis and to other states in the region is to make sure we help defend our partners, defend the free flow of assets, and that we again get Tehran to recognize the international rules-based order and obey it.”
“We are not seeking conflict with Iran… but at the same time, I’ve messaged to Tehran, do not miscalculate, do not mistake US’ restraint for weakness because we will act if need be. But at the same time this is another case where the burden cannot be shouldered by the US alone. We all have interest in preserving the rules-based order and the security of the region…”
On Turkey:
“Turkey put us all in a very terrible situation. I think the incursion was unwarranted. I think that President Erdogan is fixated on making this incursion for one reason or another; and there was not a possibility that we were going to start a war with a NATO ally.”
“The direction of Turkey – with regard to the {NATO] alliance – is heading in the wrong direction on a number of issues: we see them spinning closer to Russia’s orbit than in the Western-Europe orbit… we all need to work together to strengthen our partnership with Turkey and make sure they trend back to being the strong, reliable ally they’ve been in the past.”
“We’re in this bumpy period [with Turkey] right now, we need to plan for the long term and we need to make sure that get Turkey back on a different path as we continue to welcome new members of the alliance.”
Please be in touch directly for further information or to request interviews or analysis from GMF experts on NATO and other transatlantic security issues.
Media Relations Contacts:
Sydney Simon, Washington
[email protected]
202-683-2648