Criticized by some political leaders in Europe for this bias, Mark Rutte explained that the recognition of the danger represented by Iran’s nuclear or ballistic capabilities was shared by all Allies.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte endeavored on Thursday to defend Donald Trump and the war he is waging against Iran, while justifying the reluctance of Europeans to join the United States in this conflict. “For many years, Iran has been an exporter of chaos in the region and in the world. Let’s not be naive about this,” he assured the press. “And what the United States is currently doing is reducing this capability. And yes, I welcome it,” he emphasized.
A balancing act
They were not informed about the American-Israeli strikes, as the United States rightly wanted to keep it secret, which had the effect of delaying their response, he explained. “It’s always a risk: if too many people are informed, information can leak. But the downside is also that it takes time for Europeans to organize,” he affirmed.
However, “the good news,” is that “now more than 30 countries have committed to come together to discuss the what and when, in terms of ensuring that maritime routes remain open. And this is exactly what President Trump requested,” Mark Rutte further assured. The former Dutch prime minister has been engaging in a balancing act for months between the insults of the American president against European Allies, whom he has, among other things, called “cowards,” and the concern to defend them without angering Donald Trump.
Asked repeatedly on Thursday about Donald Trump’s recent criticisms of European Allies, he refused to comment, stressing instead the beneficial influence of the American president on strengthening the Alliance. The 32 NATO countries committed last year to devote at least 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to their military and security expenses by 2035. “Without Trump, I don’t think this would have happened,” he assured.
