NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to unity irrespective of the results of the upcoming US elections during a press conference in Berlin on Monday.
Allies in Washington are closely monitoring the electoral outcome with apprehension.
“Whoever wins those elections, we will work with Kamala Harris, we will work with Donald Trump, and make sure that the alliance stays united,” Rutte stated alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Rutte expressed confidence that the next US president would maintain support for NATO, emphasizing that such support is “in the interest of the United States.”
Concerns loom among Western allies about the future of the defense alliance, originally formed during the Cold War, especially if Trump wins the election.
During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, Trump’s administration criticized NATO allies for not meeting defense spending targets and even threatened to reduce military support for Ukraine, NATO’s primary backer.
In a notable statement, Trump warned in February that he would allow Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” regarding NATO allies that fail to increase their contributions to joint defense.
In contrast, Harris has repeatedly highlighted Trump’s controversial remarks while assuring that she, like President Joe Biden, would work closely with allies to uphold NATO’s commitments.
The possibility of a Trump presidency raises fears among allies of a potential decrease in military assistance to Ukraine, a country that has garnered extensive NATO support.
Rutte underscored the urgency of maintaining security in both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, particularly in light of reports regarding North Korean troops in Russia.
He described this development as a very serious escalation, stressing the need for heightened vigilance.
Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently presented his “Victory Plan” to Western allies, which included a request for NATO membership.
Rutte noted that bilateral security agreements established between various countries and Ukraine could serve as “a bridge to NATO membership in the longer term.”
“I’m absolutely convinced that one day Ukraine will be a member of NATO,” Rutte asserted.
AFP
