Rutte: American leadership absolutely crucial
American leadership is absolutely crucial if freedom in the world is to be the rule and not the exception.
That's what NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says - after new angry statements against NATO from US President Donald Trump.
- I see a community that extends across the Atlantic. I am sure that the US and its allies can strengthen our freedom today and in the future, Rutte says during a speech in Washington, and later adds during a question and answer session:
- NATO is there to protect Europe, but also the US.
During his speech at the Ronald Reagan Institute, Rutte also says that "some" NATO members were "a little slow" in helping the US during the Iran war.
Did not receive information
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) tells TV4 that Sweden has not received any request from the US to contribute.
– We have held talks with the American side at the military level. At that time, the message was a few weeks ago that Sweden's most important role is to keep the northern flank safe, and our support for Ukraine, he says.
He says in Washington that the member states "in all honesty were also quite surprised" by the US decision to attack Iran and that European NATO countries are today providing "great support".
– Almost without exception, allied countries do everything the US asks.
After Rutte's meeting with Trump on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with the fact that allies have not wanted to help in the US-Israeli war.
"NATO was not there when we needed them, and they will not be there if we need them again", the president wrote on Truth Social.
Trying to position himself
But the contributions from NATO countries do not only apply to the war in Iran. According to sources to Reuters and Germany's Der Spiegel, Rutte has conveyed demands from Trump to a number of NATO countries that the United States expects "concrete commitments" to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.
According to Reuters, the response has not been entirely positive. Diplomats the news agency has spoken to say that "the NATO community is more concerned than confident right now" and that the Trump-Rutte meeting did not dispel the concern.
- We know the urgency of the United States, and we know that Rutte is trying to position himself so that he can be helpful in the discussions, says a source, who continues:
- Ultimately, the goal is not to please the United States but to ensure that the right conditions are in place (to solve the problems with the Strait of Hormuz)."
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