The US withdrawal from the North Atlantic Alliance is unlikely, but NATO needs to be strengthened.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated this in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.
“I don't see the likelihood of the US leaving NATO… President Trump is clearly disappointed with some NATO members. And I understand his disappointment,” he said.
This is how Rutte commented on Trump's criticism of NATO for its unwillingness to help him in the war against Iran.
The Secretary General stressed the need for “a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO” and called for strengthening the defense industry to better protect the Alliance.
“This is critical to maintaining our deterrence and defense,” he said.
According to Rutte, there is nothing wrong with investing in defense.
“Tell your banks and pension funds that they can invest in defense. The defense industry plays a central role so that we can continue to live in security,” the NATO Secretary General said.
He also noted that the nuclear protection of Europe by the United States is beyond doubt.
“The American nuclear umbrella is the main guarantee of security here in Europe. And I am convinced that it will remain so,” Rutte emphasized.
On April 13, Trump said that the United States plans to carefully review its course and spending within the North Atlantic Alliance.
Trump previously said he was considering America's withdrawal from NATO because the bloc's European member states refused to join the military operation against Iran.