NATO: Relying solely on the US is not sustainable

TT

Updated 12.34 | Published 11.37

 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds a press conference in Brussels ahead of this week's foreign ministers' meeting in Helsingborg.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds a press conference in Brussels ahead of this week's foreign ministers' meeting in Helsingborg. Photo: Virginia Mayo/AP/TT

Relying unilaterally on the US is not sustainable in the long term, NATO chief Mark Rutte believes ahead of this week's meeting in Helsingborg.

Rebalancing is the alliance's new buzzword – also when it comes to Ukraine.

Ahead of his departure for Sweden, Rutte describes this week's foreign ministers' meeting as a starting point for this summer's NATO summit in Turkey.

Both in Ankara in July and in Helsingborg on Thursday and Friday, the focus is on reconciling the situation around NATO's increased goal of member states spending at least 5 percent of GDP on defense.

– The question is no longer whether we should do more, but how fast we can do it, says Rutte.

Produce more

Gaining momentum in the defense industry is also a major topic.

– We must manufacture faster and on a larger scale on both sides of the Atlantic, says the Secretary General.

At the same time, he downplays concerns about US troop withdrawals from Europe and instead describes the situation as an ongoing “rebalancing”, which is taking place to avoid relying on a single country – the USA.

– Europe and Canada are arming themselves and, as expected, the USA is adapting, says Rutte.

Buzzword

The rebalancing – “burden shifting” in English – is a clear fashion concept in NATO. US President Donald Trump has long demanded that other countries do more and has a warm supporter in Rutte.

– Europe with Turkey and the UK has more than 500 million inhabitants. . and we are currently relying excessively on an ally with 350 million inhabitants. It is not sustainable in the long term, says the Secretary General.

He himself would also like to see a rebalancing of support for Ukraine, where Sweden is one of the countries that stands out significantly by giving significantly more than others do.

No to Ukraine support?

Rutte has proposed that everyone should spend the equivalent of 0.25 percent of their GDP on supporting Ukraine – but seems to have already given up.

– It is my role sometimes to put bold proposals on the table. I do not think this will be accepted. But at least we have started the discussion, says the NATO chief in Brussels.

FACTS

NATO summit in Helsingborg

The foreign ministers of NATO countries are gathering in Helsingborg this week for a two-day meeting.

On Thursday evening, an informal dinner will be held with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha as a special guest, and will also be attended by King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M).

On Friday, the formal meeting with the foreign ministers of the 32 member states will begin at 10 a.m. A closing press conference with Secretary General Mark Rutte will be held at 1:45 p.m.

Source: NATO