“When NATO was founded, my country, Poland, was trapped on the wrong side. Soviet, communist domination meant that if there was a war, Polish soldiers would have to obey the orders of our enemies to fight against their friends. A tragic situation.”

“Fortunately, the evil empire has collapsed under the weight of its cruelty and its contradictions. We [Poles] were determined to join NATO in 1999 because we felt it in our bones that the window of opportunity would not last forever,” he told the participants of the event.

“We tried to embrace Russia, but we knew that the potential for violence was there. Unfortunately, Russia is on the march again, but happily, we are where we belong, in the company of democracies, among friends, at home, resisting again like a rock,” Sikorski said.

“Let’s prevail again,” he appealed.

‘America and Europe need each other for security’

“In the beginning, we had 12 members. Today, we are 32. So we must be doing something right!” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the ceremony’s opening speech.

“We have helped to spread peace, democracy, and prosperity throughout Europe. And today, we also celebrate important anniversaries for many of our members,” he emphasized.

As the Alliance’s chief pointed out, “Europe needs North America for its security… At the same time, North America also needs Europe.”

“Never has a single document with so few words meant so much to so many people,” he said, referring to the North Atlantic Treaty. “All because of its solemn promise that we stand together and protect one another. As we have for 75 years.”

Watch the full speech below: