PARIS (BNO NEWS) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday gave a speech at the L’Ecole Militaire military academy in Paris, she emphasized that the United States and Europe are essential partners in today’s global challenges.

Secretary Clinton said that thanks to the partnership between the United States and many European nations, Europe is more secure than ever before. She stressed, however, that important work remains unfinished and welcomed new thinking on European security that is underway on both sides of the Atlantic.

Underscoring the importance for new solutions, Secretary Clinton said that new dangers have emerged, such as global terrorism, including cyber terrorism and nuclear terrorism, global criminal networks, threats to Europe’s energy supply.

“Tanks, bombers, and missiles are necessary but no longer sufficient to keep our people safe.”

Secretary Clinton reassured Europeans that security in Europe remains an anchor of U.S. foreign and security policy, stating that a strong Europe is critical to U.S. security interests.

“Much of what we hope to accomplish globally depends on working together with Europe,” said Clinton. “And so we are working with European allies and partners to help bring stability to Afghanistan and try to take on the dangers posed by Iran’s nuclear ambition. We are working with Europe to help meet the crisis of climate change and revitalize the global economy.”

However, she said that European security is far more than a strategic U.S. interest, it’s an expression of U.S. values, stating that America stands with Europe as they have for decades. Clinton noted that Europe and the United States are united in an understanding of the importance of liberty and freedom, saying that both sides have fought and died for each other’s liberty and freedom.

Secretary Clinton reminded Europeans of the importance of respect of sovereignty, saying that the cornerstone of security is the territorial integrity of all states. Much of the suffering that occurred in Europe during the 20th century was the result of a failure to respect borders or to honor the right of all nations to pursue their own foreign policies, she said. Clinton promised that the United States will remain vigilant in their efforts to oppose any attempts to undermine this freedom.

“We have repeatedly called on Russia to honor the terms of its ceasefire agreement with Georgia, and we refuse to recognize Russia’s claims of independence for Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Secretary Clinton said. “More broadly, we object to any spheres of influence claimed in Europe in which one country seeks to control another’s future. Our security depends upon nations being able to choose their own destiny.”

She also touched upon the United States’ relationship with Russia, saying that the U.S. is very proud of what the two countries have accomplished together, particularly in the past year – noting the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty – and stated that the Obama administration seeks to build a more substantive and constructive relationship between the two.

Secretary Clinton strongly emphasized the commitment the United States has with its NATO allies, enforcing the idea that an attack on one is an attack on all. She talked about developing plans with European allies to develop contingency plans for responding to new and evolving threats.

Also discussing the nuclear threat, she said that people everywhere have the right to live free from the fear of nuclear destruction. Secretary Clinton said that the United States is looking to strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, pursue negotiation on Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty, and move towards ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Finally, she said that true security not only means peaceful relations among states, but ensuring human rights for the citizens and peoples within those states. Saying that governments must promote and defend the human rights of their citizens so that all can live in dignity, free from fear of violence or oppression, Secretary Clinton says that Europe and the U.S. are acting together to expand opportunity and advance democracy to protect human dignity around the world.

“We believe and we have the evidence to prove it that democracy works and can deliver for citizens if leaders are committed to the enterprise, and if democracies are about more than just elections,” said Clinton. “If we build institutions of independent judiciaries and free media and protection of minority rights and so much else that we have worked and labored to create.”

Secretary Clinton closed by saying that Europe and the United States are closer than ever to achieving the goal that has inspired European and American leaders and citizens – not only a secure and unified Europe, but a Euro-Atlantic alliance that is greater than the sum of its parts.

“The United States is honored to stand by your side as we take the next steps towards fulfilling that vision.”