16 minutes agoRutte: NATO 3.0 urges increased investment, stronger Europe within alliance
Periskopi(2 hours ago)
(2 hours ago)In a discussion on the Atlantic Council, Secretary General NATO, Mark Rutte, stressed the importance of the current moment for the alliance and the need for increased defence investments.
Speaking of NATO's future, Rutte described the current phase as “NATO 3,018x1>, which according to him is marked by increased defence spending and strengthening Europe's role within the alliance, remaining closely linked to the United States anyway.
"NATO has to do with more expenses. It concerns a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO. Remember, Europe is 600 million people. European Territory of NATO is 600 million people, very wealthy countries that defend themselves against Russia and are still highly dependent on the United States, which is 350 million people. But as it did the last time I flew from Europe to the United States, it is about eight hours of flying, so why are we so dependent? But we have to, like the U.S. and Europe, stay together, because this also has to do with protecting the United States preventing these nuclear submarines from Russia ending on the coast here. Europe is a power protection platform for the United States.
He remembered NATO history since the Cold War period, calling it NATO 1,00 a phase of collective defence against the Soviet Union, while NATO 2.0 described it as a period of lower investment and missions outside the territory, including Afghanistan following the 11 September attacks.
According to Rutte, the war in Ukraine and increasing global threats have significantly changed the alliance's approach, boosting increased military spending and closer co-operation between Europe and the US.
“Europe must be stronger within NATO, but the US remains essential for collective security,” said, stressing that transatlantic co-operation is crucial to global stability.
The discussion took place at the Atlantic Council and was moderated by its president, Frederick Kempe.
