Mark Rutte warns of Russian threat, urges NATO support for Ukraine
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) appears to have entered a state of crisis. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, last Thursday, called for increased support for Ukraine, stating that it is crucial to "alter the course of the war."
Rutte warned that Ukraine’s defeat could embolden Russia, helping it solidify ties with regimes such as those in North Korea, Iran, and China.
At the same time, NATO’s civilian leader highlighted that a Russian victory would force Alliance members to allocate significantly more resources to defense, as not all member states are currently meeting the 2% GDP defense spending goal.
On Thursday, Rutte also remarked, "there is a commitment for Ukraine to become a NATO member." However, his optimism was not universally shared, as he was contradicted by President Trump’s special envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell. Grenell predicted that such a move would cause "a stir in America," emphasizing that "the American people bear the financial burden of NATO’s defense." He also reiterated his call for European NATO members to increase their military spending.
"You cannot ask the American people to extend NATO’s umbrella when current members are not paying their fair share, including the Dutch," Grenell said, referring to the Netherlands, which was governed by Rutte from 2010 to 2024.
Now, in his role as NATO Secretary General, Rutte acknowledges the need for change and emphasized that not all members have met the 2% GDP defense spending target—a target he described as insufficient. This increase in spending is supported by countries bordering the conflict zone, such as Poland and the Baltic states, which also advocate for Ukraine’s accession to NATO.
NATO finds itself in crisis mode due to recent developments in the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, immediately after taking office, suspended all American foreign aid, whether financial or military, for 90 days, except for assistance to Israel and Egypt. Ukraine was not mentioned explicitly, suggesting it is among the countries affected by the suspension.
Additionally, Trump has decided to withdraw 20,000 soldiers from Europe over the coming months. In response, NATO’s civilian leader, Mark Rutte, remarked that an unfavorable outcome in the Russia-Ukraine war would drive Vladimir Putin "to align even more closely with the leaders of North Korea, Iran, and China."
Rutte concluded that if Ukraine were to lose the war, NATO members would be compelled to spend trillions more on defense.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
