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A Downing Street spokesperson said:

鈥淭he Prime Minister welcomed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon for a wide-ranging discussion on security issues.

鈥淪he began by congratulating the Secretary General on the extension of his appointment to 2022 and on a successful start to NATO鈥檚 70th anniversary year.

鈥淭he Prime Minister and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed the NATO Leaders鈥� Summit in December in London. They agreed that the Summit would be an opportunity to celebrate NATO鈥檚 strength and look ahead to the next 70 years of the Alliance.

鈥淥n the future of NATO, the Prime Minister and Secretary General Stoltenberg spoke about the importance of all Allies investing in our shared security in order to adapt to 21st Century threats and protect our people. They both welcomed the progress that has been made on Allies鈥� spending commitments in recent years but agreed it was important to maintain momentum and encourage all Allies to increase their contributions.

鈥淭hey discussed some of the security challenges facing the Alliance, including continuing Russian aggression and cyber threats from China. The Prime Minister welcomed NATO鈥檚 focus on these areas and offered to share further UK expertise with NATO on them.

鈥淏oth the Prime Minister and Secretary General Stoltenberg noted NATO鈥檚 important role in combatting terrorism, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Secretary General thanked the UK for its contribution to training, capacity building and other counter-terrorism programmes in the region. They both agreed on the importance of achieving a sustainable peace deal in Afghanistan that prioritises human rights.

鈥淔inally, the Secretary General paid tribute to the UK鈥檚 ongoing commitment to NATO and the contribution made by all those involved in delivering 50 years of the UK鈥檚 Continuous At Sea Deterrent.鈥�