Rutte reassured Europe that the U.S. has an interest in remaining in NATO
The United States’ participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) serves Washington’s immediate national interests, as the Alliance provides the U.S. military with direct access to strategic infrastructure and air bases on the European continent.
This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a press conference following a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Sweden, according to “European Truth.”
The head of the Alliance refrained from giving a direct answer to journalists’ questions about whether the current U.S. administration had provided official assurances that its course regarding NATO membership would remain unchanged. At the same time, Rutte cited the current military campaign in Iran as an example, noting that it has clearly demonstrated the critical dependence of U.S. defense operations on European allies. According to him, it is European military infrastructure that serves as the main staging ground for rapid response and strikes against targets in the Middle East.
The NATO Secretary General emphasized that over the past six weeks, beginning on February 28, thousands of U.S. military aircraft have conducted combat and logistical sorties from European airfields. This large-scale air operation was made possible by the long-term bilateral security commitments that the U.S. has established over decades with various European countries within the framework of Euro-Atlantic integration. Mark Rutte also expressed his conviction that European partners in the bloc have clearly heard and taken into account the White House’s requests and comments regarding the need to strengthen practical assistance during joint military operations against Iran.
At the NATO summit in Ankara on May 22, there are plans to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s “disappointment” with the Alliance. This was stated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, noting that this issue will be one of the items on the meeting’s agenda.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the NATO leaders’ summit, to be held in Ankara on July 7–8, will be one of the key events for the future of the Alliance and the entire international security system.
