Rutte responded to the question of whether Trump would withdraw the U.S. from NATO
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the U.S. is unlikely to withdraw from the Alliance. At the same time, he acknowledged that Donald Trump is disappointed with some allies. Rutte called on Europe to invest more in defense. This was reported by Welt am Sonntag.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte does not consider the scenario of the US leaving the Alliance to be realistic. He said this in an interview with the German publication, commenting on discussions surrounding Washington’s role in European security. “I don’t see any likelihood that the US will leave NATO... President Trump is clearly disappointed with some NATO members. And I understand his disappointment,” Rutte noted.
His statement came amid criticism from Donald Trump, who has repeatedly reproached allies for insufficient participation and support, particularly in the context of the conflict surrounding Iran.
Rutte emphasized that the response to these challenges is not to weaken the Alliance, but rather to strengthen it. According to him, Europe must invest more actively in its own defense and take on more responsibility. “This is crucial for maintaining our deterrence and defense... Tell your banks and pension funds that they can invest in defense,” the secretary general said.
He also noted that the U.S. nuclear umbrella remains a key element of European security. At the same time, the nuclear forces of France and the United Kingdom play an important role. “NATO’s nuclear deterrence is a strong and necessary element of our collective defense,” Rutte added.
In conclusion, he emphasized that the Alliance must remain united and strong, even despite political differences among its members.
Additionally, Iran has partially reopened its airspace, allowing international flights to pass through the eastern part of the country. Despite this, airlines are proceeding with caution and are not rushing to return to this route en masse.
