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Rutte Calls for Greater European Responsibility Within NATO
(MENAFN) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged European members of the alliance to assume a larger role in protecting the continent as NATO works to make European allies more responsible for regional defense.
“We are going to need more as we continue making NATO more and more European-led,” he said during a conference of German diplomatic mission heads in Berlin.
Rutte said European countries are rapidly increasing their defense efforts, pointing to what he described as a “real mindset shift” among NATO’s European members.
He also highlighted the outcome of the Ankara summit in July, saying: “In the wake of the Ankara summit (in July), one thing is clear: allies are determined to build a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO, what we call NATO 3.0,” he said.
According to Rutte, strengthening Europe’s military capabilities and rebuilding its armed forces will be critical to ensuring the continent can take greater responsibility for its own security.
“Europeans increasingly understand that taking greater responsibility for our own security is not optional,” Rutte said.
Turning to the war in Ukraine, he said Russia continues to sustain “enormous losses,” with estimates indicating that more than 40,000 Russian personnel are killed or seriously wounded each month.
“Despite those heavy losses, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin shows no willingness to bring the war to an end. Instead, Russia repeatedly strikes Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, often targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he said.
Rutte also addressed reported acts of sabotage in several European countries, describing them as the actions of a “desperate regime” that has failed to accomplish its objectives in Ukraine.
"Putin thinks he can divide us, destabilize us, and weaken our support for Ukraine, but he will fail," he said.
After delivering his remarks, Rutte took part in a moderated discussion with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
When questioned about whether Washington remains willing to defend Europe, Rutte responded “absolutely,” stressing that he has no doubts about US support.
“The US is totally committed to NATO, is totally committed to Article Five,” he said.
“We are going to need more as we continue making NATO more and more European-led,” he said during a conference of German diplomatic mission heads in Berlin.
Rutte said European countries are rapidly increasing their defense efforts, pointing to what he described as a “real mindset shift” among NATO’s European members.
He also highlighted the outcome of the Ankara summit in July, saying: “In the wake of the Ankara summit (in July), one thing is clear: allies are determined to build a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO, what we call NATO 3.0,” he said.
According to Rutte, strengthening Europe’s military capabilities and rebuilding its armed forces will be critical to ensuring the continent can take greater responsibility for its own security.
“Europeans increasingly understand that taking greater responsibility for our own security is not optional,” Rutte said.
Turning to the war in Ukraine, he said Russia continues to sustain “enormous losses,” with estimates indicating that more than 40,000 Russian personnel are killed or seriously wounded each month.
“Despite those heavy losses, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin shows no willingness to bring the war to an end. Instead, Russia repeatedly strikes Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, often targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he said.
Rutte also addressed reported acts of sabotage in several European countries, describing them as the actions of a “desperate regime” that has failed to accomplish its objectives in Ukraine.
"Putin thinks he can divide us, destabilize us, and weaken our support for Ukraine, but he will fail," he said.
After delivering his remarks, Rutte took part in a moderated discussion with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
When questioned about whether Washington remains willing to defend Europe, Rutte responded “absolutely,” stressing that he has no doubts about US support.
“The US is totally committed to NATO, is totally committed to Article Five,” he said.
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