Biden forcefully defends Nato as he hosts summit leaders

Leaders from the 32 member countries, including the UK’s new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, gathered on Tuesday evening for Mr Biden’s address.

Before leaving for Washington, Sir Keir said he was pleased to “confirm and reaffirm Labour’s strong support, unshakeable support for Nato”.

The Nato trip is “all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support to Ukraine, and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world,” he said.

The event was steeped in the alliance’s history.

It was held in the very venue where the original treaty was signed decades ago, which Mr Biden invoked in his speech.

After the leaders posed for a group photograph, the audience watched a video celebrating Nato, featuring archival footage of Nato troops and rousing speeches from world leaders.

In opening remarks, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg celebrated the creation of a group “with a clear purpose to preserve peace and safeguard freedom”.

The group of nations currently faces a major challenge as Russia continues its war against Ukraine.

Mr Stoltenberg called it the “biggest security crisis in generations.”

Near the conclusion of his speech, Mr Biden called Mr Stoltenberg back to the stage, calling him “a man of integrity and intellectual rigour.”

He awarded Mr Stoltenberg the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honour.