section_path: NATO Secretary General (2014–2024)/2019
section_name: 2019
paragraph_text: 2019
  
  In March 2019, Stoltenberg stated that "Georgia will become a member of NATO".
  
  In April 2019, Stoltenberg warned in a joint session of the U.S. Congress of the threat posed by Russia. In May 2019, Stoltenberg hailed Turkey 's contribution to NATO. He said: "Turkey joined the Alliance in 1952, and it continues to be a highly valued member of our family of nations. As secretary-general, I greatly appreciate all that Turkey does for our Alliance."
  
  In August 2019, Stoltenberg warned that NATO needs to "address the rise of China", by closely cooperating with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. In June 2020, Stoltenberg urged like-minded nations to stand up to China's "bullying and coercion".
  
  Stoltenberg "strongly condemned" the 2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack on key Saudi Arabia 's oil facilities and accused Iran of "supporting different terrorist groups and being responsible for destabilising the whole region."
  
  In October 2019, Turkey invaded the Kurdish areas in Syria. Stoltenberg said that Turkey has "legitimate security concerns" during press conference with Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
  
  In December 2019, Stoltenberg told journalists in Brussels that "Since 2016, Canada and European allies have added $130 billion more to the defense budgets, and this number will increase to 400 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. This is unprecedented. This is making NATO stronger."