Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Spiegel that the main problem of the Middle East conflict remains the absence of an independent Palestinian state. On October 1, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, the official transfer of affairs from Stoltenberg to the new Secretary General of the alliance, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, took place. Stoltenberg himself will chair the Munich Security Conference next year.
"For a long time, the main problem has been the lack of a state for the Palestinians. I understand the difficulties of creating two states, but I believe that the time that has passed since the horrific terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7 has once again clearly demonstrated the importance of such a solution," Stoltenberg said.
The former Secretary General noted that there is a danger that the current conflict in the Middle East will escalate throughout the entire region, and also expressed support for the efforts of the United States and Germany aimed at de-escalating tensions.
