Cem Gürdeniz reacts sharply to NATO Secretary General Rutte's '22 countries are ready' statement! 'Vital for Turkey...'

Retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz has reacted sharply to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's remarks that "22 countries are coming together to secure the Strait of Hormuz."

Describing the mention of military engagement on this scale in a critical energy route like the Strait of Hormuz as "an approach that will escalate regional tension," Gürdeniz emphasized that this rhetoric is aimed at pleasing US President Donald Trump.

Stating that NATO, particularly its European wing, is experiencing severe ammunition and logistical depletion due to the Russia-Ukraine War, Gürdeniz said, "The arsenals of many European countries are at an alarming level of emptiness." He also noted that the US military stocks are being strained due to the intense support provided to Israel.

Gürdeniz stated that in an alliance of 32 members like NATO, an engagement of this magnitude could not be voiced without the approval of the North Atlantic Council, and questioned by what authority Rutte made this statement.

"VITAL FOR TURKEY"

"For Turkey, the issue carries an even more vital dimension," said Gürdeniz, adding, "Under such unstable leadership, how much longer we will continue to allocate our most valuable naval and air assets to NATO operational command must now be seriously debated. Because the issue is not just an alliance obligation, but a direct matter of national security and the proper use of our national forces."

The full text of Gürdeniz's statement is as follows:

"Is there no authority to rein in NATO Secretary General Rutte?

1. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's recent statement that '22 countries are coming together to secure the Strait of Hormuz' is a sign of an extremely dangerous strategic rupture that is diametrically opposed to the alliance's current reality.

2. Voicing a military engagement of this scale in one of the world's most critical energy transit routes just to make Trump happy is not only escalating regional tension but also clearly ignoring NATO's own capacity limits.

3. Today, the European leg of NATO, in particular, is experiencing serious ammunition and logistical depletion due to the support given to the Ukraine war. The arsenals of many European countries have been emptied to an alarming degree. On the US side, it is now an open fact that stocks are being seriously strained due to the intense military support provided to Israel. In such a picture, talking about a new military commitment in a high-risk geography like Hormuz is the product of an approach that has lost its connection with military reality.

4. Rutte's '22 countries are ready' rhetoric is not enough to cover up the political and military fragmentation on the ground. Because in the same process, while some European countries are distancing themselves from direct military participation, contradictory statements are coming even from the US side that NATO is not needed. In other words, there is no unified and binding NATO decision, but rather a scattered and ambiguous coalition rhetoric.

5. What is even more critical is this: In a military alliance of 32 members like NATO, a decision for engagement of this scale cannot be uttered without the open discussions and approval of the NAC-North Atlantic Council. By what authority Rutte makes such statements is a serious question mark. This is an attitude that harms the institutional functioning of the alliance and bypasses decision-making mechanisms.

6. One of the biggest mistakes in military history is to enter into major commitments and embark on uncontrolled adventures without correctly assessing one's existing power. Today, NATO stands exactly on the brink of this risk. The zigzagging, unpredictable, and at times childish reflexes of the political leadership are further weakening the already fragile strategic balance.

7. For Turkey, the issue carries an even more vital dimension. Under such unstable leadership, how much longer we will continue to allocate our most valuable naval and air assets to NATO operational command must now be seriously debated. Because the issue is not just an alliance obligation, but a direct matter of national security and the proper use of our national forces.

In conclusion, NATO does not need to be defeated militarily; NATO already presents a defeated image within itself. Because as long as there is a secretary general like Rutte, NATO will continue to drift in every direction like a headless chicken without knowing where it is going."

Is there no authority to rein in NATO Secretary General Rutte?

1. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's recent statement that '22 countries are coming together to secure the Strait of Hormuz' is a sign of an extremely dangerous strategic rupture that is diametrically opposed to the alliance's current reality... pic.twitter.com/EytUZB7dXH

— Cem GÜRDENİZ (@cemgurdeniznet) March 23, 2026

News Source: 12punto