[Sciutto:] There are real questions, concerns, fears even about the survival of NATO, an alliance in Europe decades old to help keep the peace there, keep Europe united against Russia and other threats. Real concerns. So I raised those concerns with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview. He is more confident. He says there are no indications, in his view, that NATO is in danger. In fact, he says that the U.S. is taking steps to preserve the alliance. This comes as there are questions about other issues and treaties between the U.S. and Russia, including an intermediate nuclear forces treaty which Stoltenberg says Russia will withdraw from, that a challenge to peace in the region. Here's our conversation. Mr. Secretary-general, thanks very much for taking the time today.
[Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General, Nato:] Thank you so much for having me.
[Sciutto:] I want to begin, if I can, with the relationship between the U.S. and NATO. As you know, President Trump has, at times, feuded with NATO members. He's even questioned at times the relevance of NATO today. I want to play for you really an alarming prediction that former Vice President Joseph Biden made in an interview recently on CNN and get your reaction. Have a listen.
[Joe Biden , Presidential Candidate:] If he wins re-election, I promise you, there'll be no NATO in four years or five years.
[Chris Cuomo, Cnn Host, "cuomo Primetime":] You think there'll be no more NATO if he's re-elected?
[Biden:] No more NATO.
[Sciutto:] The vice president eight years as vice president, predicting that if President Trump is re-elected that NATO will will end? Do you think he's wrong?
[Stoltenberg:] So I will be very careful being part of a upcoming presidential campaign in the United States. But what I can say is that what we have seen over the last years is actually an increased U.S. presence in Europe. U.S. military presence in Europe. President Trump has clearly called for more defense spending from European allies. But at the same time, we have seen that the U.S. is committed to NATO, the our transatlantic alliance, not only in words but also in deeds by increasing the number of U.S. troops in Europe.
[Sciutto:] I want to ask about election interference if I can because I always remind people here in the U.S. that Russia's interference in elections continues in Europe, most recently in the E.U. elections. Just as it's predicted, Russia will attempt again to interfere in the 2020 election here in the U.S. In your view, is Russia's election interference a national security threat to NATO and the west?
[Stoltenberg:] It is a serious concern. And, of course, they they have attempted and have tried to interfere in domestic political processes, undermine the trust in our democratic institutions. That's something we take very seriously. And that's also reason why we have stepped up our efforts and make sure that doesn't happen. Part of our strengthening cyber defenses, sharing best practices, supporting each other, and partly just by increasing awareness. But I also strongly believe that perhaps the best weapon we have against disinformation and interference in political processes is to have a free and independent press asking the difficult questions, checking the sources. And by having that, we are also undermining the possibility of when they interference in our democratic processes.
[Sciutto:] Today, how grave a threat is Russia to Europe, to NATO, to the U.S., in your view?
[Stoltenberg:] We don't see an imminent threat of a military attack. And and and that's also because NATO provides credible and strong deterrence every day. We have done so for 70 years in a very successful way deterring any attack against an ally. And and we will continue do so, sending a message that an attack on one will trigger an attack from the whole would trigger a response from the whole alliance and that's the best way to prevent a conflict. But what we see is a more assertive Russia and we see this concept of hybrid war or shadow war, which is an attempt to blur the line between peace and war using a covert operation, cyber meddling in domestic political affairs and we saw the Skripal case, the use of chemical agent in in in United Kingdom.
[Sciutto:] As you know, I wrote a book called "The Shadow." We're very much on on that on that topic. Final question before I let you go, because I spoke to to a number of people in Europe. I spoke to them across the military and intelligence services here in the U.S. And one criticism they had, they felt that they were not getting leadership from the top in the U.S. They were not getting the public statements about the threat from Russia that they feel they need from this administration, this president. I just wonder, from your seat, where you're right in the middle there, you're very close to the Russian threat. From your seat, do you hear words, statements, conviction from this president that you believe you need to hear today to keep the alliance together and to stand up to Russia?
[Stoltenberg:] So what we see is that the U.S. is increasing its military presence in Europe and European allies are stepping up. So the politics is that while there are some questions asked about the strength of the transatlantic bond, the reality on the ground is that we are doing more together than we've done for many, many years. And that's very reassuring when it comes to the strength of the transatlantic bond.
[Harlow:] Great interview.
[Sciutto:] You know, it's an interesting contradiction because it is true, the U.S. is deploying more forces in Europe along with its NATO allies. More military hardware, jets, et cetera. So why the disconnect with with the statements from the president about why we're doing this
[Harlow:] Yes, to what end.
[Sciutto:] To what degree is Russia a threat. In fact, as you know, you've often had contradictory statements.
[Harlow:] Of course.
[Sciutto:] Well, they're not really a threat. They did not interfere in the election.
[Harlow:] Of course.
[Sciutto:] Of course he made it very clear there, not just
[Harlow:] That they did.
[Sciutto:] Not just interfering in U.S. elections but European elections.
[Harlow:] So you'll be there tomorrow.
[Sciutto:] I will be.
[Harlow:] Jim's going to be at the Aspen Security Forum tomorrow. It will be interesting to hear what's top of mind for everyone there.
[Sciutto:] No question.
[Harlow:] OK. All right. So, ahead, in politics here, Joe Biden, Senator Kamala Harris went toe to toe in that first debate. Will they get a chance to do it again? We'll break down their chances before because, of course, CNN's draw is tonight.