The chief of NATO says that the military alliance must move to a “state of mind in wartime”.
NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, said Thursday that members recognized “the need to invest much more”, commenting after the United States told members the day Europe had to “have its own security ”, including the support of Ukraine.
“We have been producing more and more quickly than for decades, but we can and must do more to ensure the credibility of our defense returns for the coming years,” said Rutte.
“We have to move on to a state of mind in wartime and we need the industry to move with us. The demand signals are clear and they will continue to grow. »»
Rutte, who spoke after a meeting of the Ministers of Defense of the Alliance, said that he thought that civil servants would return to each of their countries with a “greater sense of urgency” to increase spending.
His comments came a day after the American defense secretary Pete Hegseth repeated the calls of US President Donald Trump that more investments must be made by other NATO allies.
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“The United States remains attached to the NATO alliance and the defense partnership with Europe. Complete judgment, ”said Hegseth.
“But the United States will no longer tolerate an unbalanced relationship that encourages dependence. On the contrary, our relationship will favor Europe for the possibility of having its own security. »»
In total, 23 of the 32 member countries met with the organization’s commitment to spend two percent of the gross domestic product on their national defense budgets last year, but a third still does not do so.
Canada is one of those who continue not to fail.
Ukraine was also a main objective in meetings, Rotte saying that the Alliance discussed the importance of continuous support.
Trump said on Wednesday that he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said Ukraine could neither have all his land or join NATO.
The remarks made the alarm for kyiv and the European allies of NATO who said that they feared that the White House will conclude without them.
“We, as a sovereign country, simply will not be able to accept any agreement without us,” said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He said Putin was aimed at making his negotiations bilateral with the United States, and it was important not to allow him.
When asked if Ukraine would start negotiations from a weak position, Rutte did not agree.
“Even if the talks start, they will not end on the first day or the second day, so there is, let’s say, a path where we have to make sure that discussions succeed,” he said.
“It is important that we have concluded a peace agreement and, at the same time, to make sure that Putin understands that the West is united, that Ukraine gets all the support he needs to prevail.”
British Defense Secretary John Healey told journalists at the NATO headquarters: “There cannot be negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine. And the voice of Ukraine must be at the heart of all the talks. »»
Answering journalists’ questions about European participation, Rutte said the Allies consult “between them”, including the United States, and said they were working to “go to the same page”.
Although it remains to be seen what could happen during peace talks, Rutte stressed that although the Alliance has engaged in future NATO membership for Ukraine, that was not part of the discussions On peace discussions.
“What I have always said is that we must make sure that whatever the result, we must make sure that Vladimir Putin will never try, never attack Ukraine,” he declared.
“But that has never been a promise to Ukraine only in the context of a peace agreement, they would be at NATO.”
– With Reuters and Associated Press files
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