Rutte called on NATO countries to support the U.S. military operation against Iran
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a strong statement in support of the military actions being taken by U.S. President Donald Trump against the Iranian regime.
The head of the Alliance expressed his conviction that despite initial hesitation from some European countries, the allies will ultimately unite behind the American initiative to ensure global security.
According to Politico, Rutte has consistently demonstrated solidarity with Washington, even amid internal European debates.
Some leading EU countries emphasize NATO’s exclusively defensive nature and express reluctance to get involved in the conflict in the Persian Gulf, particularly in patrolling the Strait of Hormuz to protect oil tankers.
“I know that we always stand together,” Mark Rutte emphasized, commenting on the Alliance’s unity.
He expressed full confidence in the White House’s actions, noting that U.S. President Donald Trump “is doing this to protect the entire world” from the threat posed by the unpredictable regime in Tehran.
The NATO Secretary General explained the delay in the response from European capitals by the fact that they were not involved in the initial planning of the attacks. This was necessary to preserve the element of surprise for the joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel.
“I understand the president’s frustration that this is taking some time, but again, I ask for your understanding, as the countries had to prepare,” Rutte added.
Mark Rutte drew a troubling parallel between the current situation surrounding Iran and the history of North Korea’s nuclear program.
According to him, the world has already made a mistake by engaging in overly protracted negotiations with Pyongyang, which allowed North Korea to acquire a nuclear arsenal.
He stressed that a repeat of this scenario with Iran must not be allowed.
As a reminder, the NATO mission in Iraq has evacuated all personnel to Europe.
NATO is also proposing to expand supply lines for troops in the event of a conflict with Russia.
