In an interview on Christmas Day, the NATO Secretary General dismissed the proposal for an EU-led deployment of troops to Ukraine, emphasizing that the transatlantic partnership remains crucial for collective security.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte rejected the suggestion of establishing an independent European security architecture and also declined calls for EU defense independence from the United States. He insisted that despite some senior European politicians advocating for a departure from the U.S. in defense matters, the EU does not need to go separate ways from the U.S.

Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party and leader of the largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament, had previously called for deploying European forces under EU command to safeguard peace in Ukraine.

Weber said, "I hope soldiers wearing uniforms with the EU flag will work with our Ukrainian friends to maintain peace."

However, Mark Rutte clearly expressed his disagreement with this proposal during an interview on the 25th. He said, "I am fully convinced that the U.S. is fully committed to NATO, and there is no doubt about it. The U.S. indeed has a significant expectation—that we (Europe) increase military spending and take more responsibility."

The NATO Secretary General also emphasized that efforts by Europe to strengthen defense should be coordinated with the U.S., rather than pursued independently.

He pointed out, "When we talk about 'Europe' and 'NATO,' it is far more than just the EU itself." He added that the 23 EU member states within NATO account for only about a quarter of the alliance's overall economic output.

Mark Rutte also mentioned that the U.S. and Europe share common interests in defending the Arctic and the North Atlantic.

He said, "The U.S. has specific interests in NATO—of course including European security, but also the Arctic. A secure Arctic is crucial for the U.S., and this can only be achieved through the joint efforts of U.S.-European NATO allies."

"The Arctic is a major issue. We have seen Chinese and Russian ships sailing there. Only through the joint efforts of NATO allies from Europe and the U.S. can we jointly defend the Arctic."

According to certain intelligence assessments, Mark Rutte warned that Russia could pose a serious threat as early as 2027.

He said, "I won't speculate specifically on when, where, or how an attack might occur. But ultimately, an attack on NATO is equivalent to an attack on all member states—because that is what Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty says: an attack on one is an attack on all."

He added, "As long as we do two things—firmly support Ukraine and increase NATO defense spending—we will be strong enough to defend ourselves, and Putin will never act recklessly."

In the interview on the 25th, Mark Rutte also praised Germany's commitment to raising military spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029, earlier than the 2035 deadline set at the June Hague NATO summit.

He called Germany's approach "impressive" and said Germany is "leading the way" among European allies.

Mark Rutte stated that if the EU chooses to act independently in the field of security, it would only harm its own interests. He emphasized that EU member states should comply with the U.S. request to further increase military spending.

At the NATO summit held in The Hague in June, U.S. President Trump pushed member states to commit to spending 5% of GDP annually on military expenditures by 2035. This proposal sparked dissatisfaction among some member states, including Slovakia and Spain. Spain reacted most strongly, calling the goal "completely unachievable," even drawing threats from Trump of increased tariffs.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7588496922629947904/

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