NATO chief says Europeans got Trump’s message on defense
Europe’s leaders have received Donald Trump’s warning over the Iran war — and are now moving to answer it, NATO chief Mark Rutte said after Washington announced it would pull 5,000 troops out of Germany.
Europe’s leaders have received Donald Trump’s warning over the Iran war — and are now moving to answer it, NATO chief Mark Rutte said after Washington announced it would pull 5,000 troops out of Germany.
“European leaders have gotten the message. They heard the message loud and clear,” Mr Rutte said ahead of talks with European leaders in Armenia, as he pointed to what he described as frustration in Washington over European allies’ reluctance to enter the war.
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“Europeans are stepping up,” Mr Rutte insisted. “We have seen all these countries now participating with their bilateral agreements making sure that when it comes to basing requests and all the logistical support,” he said.
“Yes, there has been some disappointment from the US side, but Europeans have listened,” Mr Rutte told reporters.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaking as he arrived at the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan
However, Mr Rutte said other NATO countries including Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Britain, France and Germany were now carrying out requests related to base access and wider logistical backing.
Mr Rutte also said “more and more” European nations were positioning assets such as minehunters and minesweepers nearer the Gulf so they would be prepared for a “next phase”.
Several European countries have also said they would be ready to join a mission aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz once the war is over.
The announcement of the US troop withdrawal caught many off guard, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
“The timing of this announcement comes as a surprise. I think it shows that we really have to strengthen the European pillar in NATO, and we have to really do more,” said Ms Kallas, speaking as she arrived at a European Political Community summit in Yerevan.
“The American troops are not in Europe only for protecting the European interests, but also the American interests,” she added