NATO Secretary General Rutte: Trump has expressed his commitment

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Polish President Andrzej Duda at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Rutte and Duda held a joint press conference following their meeting.

Addressing concerns about the future of NATO, Rutte said, "We are living in times of uncertainty, and I know that some have concerns about the future of NATO. So let me be clear. The transatlantic partnership continues to form the foundation of our alliance. President Trump has clearly expressed the commitment of the US and his own personal commitment to NATO. Furthermore, the expectation that we in Europe must do more regarding defense spending has also been clearly stated."

Pointing out that defense spending by Europe and Canada increased by 20 percent last year, Rutte said, "At the same time, allies are working on what more can be done. In the last few weeks, Denmark and the UK have made major announcements. Germany, France, and the Czech Republic have taken significant steps. The Czech Republic made an announcement yesterday. I welcome these developments because our collective security is our shared responsibility. As allies work to increase defense investments, many allies are also working on how they can contribute to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We all want to see an end to Russia's attacks and the achievement of a peace that guarantees Ukraine's sovereignty and lasting peace."

"THEY ARE DISCUSSING HOW TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES BEING FACED"

When asked about the US suspending aid to Ukraine, Rutte said, "It is important for Ukraine to be in a strong position, especially when peace talks begin. Whatever form this process takes, Ukraine needs to be strong during it. Therefore, continued support is essential, and in this context, the US and Ukraine are currently discussing how to move forward on this issue and how to resolve some of the challenges being faced."

Duda, for his part, called on NATO member countries to urgently increase their defense spending to 3 percent of their gross domestic product. Requesting that NATO Secretary General Rutte discuss the matter at the NATO Summit to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, Duda said, "The situation is such that we cannot wait until 2030."