Rutte reported to journalists under The White House His talks with the American president and his national safety advisor Michael Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. NATO Secretary-General said that the discussion was primarily about expenditure on defence of the Alliance and the upcoming The Hague Summit. However, he added that he besides discussed negotiations on the war in Ukraine.
As he stated, Wednesday talks with Ukraine in London were positive.
– We have something on the table now, the Ukrainians have truly taken the game and it's clear that The ball is now on Russia's side “The Dutchman said. He admitted he didn't know if Vladimir Putin He wants peace.
He besides refused to give details of the concessions required from Ukraine and denied the reports of the Financial Times that his visit to Washington was intended to visit Trump's administration from attempts to force Ukraine to adopt an adverse arrangement, including the designation of the annexation of Crimea.
The presence of US forces in Europe. “They must take care of many theatres”
Rutte, erstwhile asked whether he had obtained an work from Trump to leave American soldiers in Europe at the present level, did not answer explicitly, but suggested that The U.S. intends to reduce their military presence on the continent, which he found justified.
– As you know, The United States must take care of many theatres including the mediate East, including Indo-Pacific. And I said earlier, since president Obama, there has been a turn towards Asia. The question here is how to make certain that the United States is able to take care of all these areas and at the same time that we collectively defend the Euro-Atlantic area, That's what we're working on," he said.
SEE: NATO chief went to Trump's Florida residence. Rutte has the nickname “Trump Whisperer”
- We do. complete commitment to NATO, a full commitment to the famous Article 5and the attack on 1 is an attack on all but besides a clear commitment that we must velocity up spending in Europe, do more by yourself, so that for us it is possible for Americans to spend more time and resources on Indo-Pacific, which I consider logical," he added.
He besides stressed that the full Alliance is compatible, that Russia is simply a long-term threat to Europe's security.
Defense spending. The required level is "significantly above 3%"
Rutte said that by the time of the Hague summit countries specified as Belgium, Spain and Italy meet the request defence expenditure of 2% of GDP, Although he pointed out that this was not adequate to defend NATO's territory.
He stressed that the required level was "significantly above 3%"
SEE: Rutte-Dud meeting. ‘NATO must be ready’
– This is not based on assumptions, but on careful planning. We know precisely what capabilities we request to achieve. We know the gaps we gotta fill to keep NATO safe.. And the good thing is that spending so much more on the European side of Canada, it will match what the US is paying for this defence," said the Secretary-General of the Alliance, forecasting that the Alliance's defence spending will shortly be counted in billions alternatively than billions.
Earlier on Thursday, Rutte met with Pentagon head Pete HegsethAnd then he had scheduled meetings with Waltz and Rubio. gathering Trump wasn't in his first plans.
