Washington, June 25: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has expressed strong support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and actions against Iran. He stated that America’s steps have played a crucial role in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon capabilities. Rutte also made it clear that Trump is fully committed to NATO and the transatlantic alliance.
During a joint media appearance with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, Rutte praised U.S. leadership on the Iran issue ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for next month in Ankara.
“I want to make it clear that what you are doing regarding Iran is extremely important,” Rutte stated. He described Iran as a nation that exports “chaos and terrorism.” According to Rutte, Iran was very close to obtaining nuclear capabilities.
He warned that if Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, it would pose a serious threat not only to the Middle East and Israel but also to Europe and the entire world. Rutte emphasized that this action was not merely a part of regional politics but a step related to global security and stability.
“This is a matter of security and protecting people. It is the responsibility of the leader of the free world, which is not just America but involves the safety of the entire globe,” Rutte added.
Meanwhile, President Trump criticized some European nations once again, stating that the U.S. did not receive the expected support from its allies during the conflict. “We were disappointed. We didn’t need any help. We had already weakened them completely in the first week, but it would have been nice if our allies had said they wanted to help,” Trump remarked.
Rutte acknowledged that there were reasons for disappointment in some cases but described them as isolated incidents. He noted that many European countries supported U.S. operations through bilateral agreements. According to Rutte, during the campaign, 4,000 to 5,000 U.S. aircraft had flown from European airbases, providing significant support for U.S. military actions.
Later, speaking to reporters outside the West Wing, Rutte reiterated that Trump is fully dedicated to the NATO alliance. He mentioned that Trump has consistently urged allied nations to increase defense spending, with a goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense and security by 2035, which is one of his major foreign policy achievements.
Rutte reported that European countries and Canada have increased their defense spending by nearly 20% over the past year. He also noted that purchases and investments from American defense companies have supported approximately 200,000 jobs in the U.S.
The NATO Secretary General confirmed continued support for Ukraine, stating that the situation in Ukraine has improved significantly over the past five to six months, largely due to American assistance.
The NATO summit, scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, will focus on increasing defense spending, expanding defense production capabilities, and providing ongoing support to Ukraine. NATO has consistently reiterated that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, and Rutte firmly reinforced this stance during his visit to Washington.
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