NATO Goes Beyond Europe: A New Defense Strategy
Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, during his visit to Washington, articulated a fundamental principle of the organization's activities. According to him, NATO's mission is not limited to protecting European allies. The Alliance undertakes the obligation to protect the continental part of the United States, thereby enabling Washington to play a decisive role on the world stage.
«NATO exists not only to protect Europe. NATO also helps protect the continental United States and ensures that the United States can play its remarkable, decisive role on the world stage in terms of projecting American power», — the head of the Alliance stated during his speech.
Preparation for the Summit in Ankara
Rutte's speech came shortly before the NATO summit, scheduled for July 5–7 in Ankara. The Secretary General shared plans for the upcoming meeting, noting that one of the main goals would be to scale up the defense industry. The summit plans to conclude new contracts aimed at strengthening the military potential of the bloc.
Threat Assessment: Russia, China, and North Korea
Rutte gave a harsh assessment of the current geopolitical situation. He emphasized that Russia remains an «immediate and long-term» threat to NATO. Furthermore, the Secretary General warned about the growing military potential of China and North Korea.
Particular concern is caused by the interaction of these countries. Rutte called the interaction of Moscow, Pyongyang, and Beijing in the field of military cooperation an additional risk to the security of the Alliance.
Diplomatic Maneuver in Washington
The Secretary General's visit to the US takes place against the backdrop of certain frictions between Washington and European partners. Earlier, it was reported that Rutte tried to reduce tensions in relations by using a tactic of praising President Donald Trump. This step was aimed at smoothing out conflicts between allies.
The cause of the misunderstanding was the refusal of several European countries to support the US military campaign against Iran. In particular, allies did not show a desire to send their contingents to the Strait of Hormuz to resolve the escalation in the region. In response, the US President listed the countries that, in his opinion, are the worst allies of Washington in Europe: Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.