Rutte: “The US wants to stay in NATO – a strong will”
Foreign Minister Marco Rubio made that clear during the NATO summit in Sweden.
At the same time, the Secretary General tried to calm the world press.
– The US wants to stay in NATO, said Mark Rutte.
There have been many turns.
Donald Trump has threatened to leave NATO several times and called the alliance a disappointment.
But just before the NATO summit in Helsingborg – a positive signal came. The US is sending 5,000 soldiers to Poland.
Unity was also what Secretary General Mark Rutte tried to show after the meeting in Helsingborg.
– If someone is foolish enough to attack us – the response will be devastating, says Mark Rutte.
He assured that all members comply with Article 5 and called the will to defend the alliance “ironclad”.
Helicopter hovered close
Outside the meeting room, blue-gray waves rolled in.
Police officers with reinforcement weapons moved around on the quay.
Earlier on Friday, when NATO foreign ministers had begun their so-called, a loud roar was suddenly heard from a helicopter. It hovered over the premises for a long time – at that time, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio arrived.
Rubio's fears of possible negative messages from his home country were put to shame. He did begin by pointing out that Trump is still disappointed with several NATO allies and believes that they should help the US with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
– This needs to be discussed at the highest level, said Rubio.
But Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard assured that the meeting had led to the allies coming closer together.
– The alliance is stronger than ever. The unity is strong, she said.
Shortly after 10 a.m., NATO foreign ministers and Secretary General Mark Rutte gathered.
Malmer Stenergard began the meeting by pointing out that the ministers are sitting in the front row to see Putin's dirty tactics to win the war.
– Just outside here, ships from Russia's shadow fleet pass every week. They help finance Russia's war against Ukraine, said Maria Malmer Stenergard.
Then the journalists were allowed to leave.
Has taken hostages
Counter-protesters gathered at Gustav Adolfs torg in Helsingborg at the same time.
According to Helsingborgs dagblad, the protesters were far fewer than the police officers deployed for a long time.
After the meeting, several journalists asked questions about NATO allies' involvement in the US war against Iran and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that allies should help.
– Iran is trying to hold the world economy hostage. It is important that countries come together and ensure that the Strait of Hormuz is kept open, said Rutte.
Rutte said that today's meeting had been successful. A good preparation for the summit in Ankara, Turkey, in six weeks.
– Today the ministers discussed how they will take the step to , he said.
Have you received a promise from Trump and Rubio that the US will not withdraw in the future?
– The alliance exists to defend us all. Norway, for example, is crucial to US security. In addition, thousands of US aircraft have taken off from European bases in recent weeks. That is one reason, said Mark Rutte.
Some swedes are afraid that membership could make us a target. Can you guarantee that an ally will not station nuclear-armed aircraft or ships in sweden ?
– That is difficult to answer. Because we also have the nuclear umbrella and we know that France and the UK are nuclear powers – they have their own nuclear capabilities outside of NATO. But it is clear that we coordinate.
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