【By Observer Group, Xiong Chaoran】Since becoming the Secretary General of NATO, former Dutch Prime Minister Rutte has caused controversy by calling U.S. President Trump "Dad," and his "flattering" attitude towards the United States has shocked many.

On January 25 local time, the Netherlands' largest circulation financial newspaper, "Financial Daily," published an interview with him. In the interview, when asked whether Europe could break away from the United States, Rutte firmly replied: "For me, it is impossible. History has tied us together. The American nuclear umbrella is the ultimate guarantee of our security."

Rutte also claimed that any notion that Europe can protect itself without the United States is unrealistic. "If anyone thinks we can temporarily do without the support of the United States, they are completely wrong," he said.

He reiterated his previous call for NATO member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. He claimed that Europe must accelerate weapon production, support defense startups, learn lessons from the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and convert existing industries into military use.

Rutte also rejected claims that Europe could soon replace American military power. He stated that even though the UK and France have nuclear weapons, compared to the arsenals of the United States and Russia, their scale is still "small." He also believes that without the United States, Europe would need to allocate 8% or 9% of its GDP to defense.

Meanwhile, just a few days before Rutte's remarks, the acting Dutch prime minister, Schoof, stated on January 22 local time that the relationship between Europe and the United States has undergone fundamental changes and cannot return to its previous level. He believes that Europe must take a firmer stance and needs to accelerate economic growth.

NATO Secretary General Rutte interviewed by Dutch media, "Financial Daily"

Regarding the content of this interview, other Dutch media outlets also made reports. DutchNews pointed out that previously, US President Trump had made "acquisition" comments about Greenland, causing tension, and after a week of global turmoil, NATO Secretary General Rutte's attitude has been closely watched.

The report said that Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs on eight countries over their opposition to the issue of Greenland, but later, after meeting with Rutte, he claimed that "a framework for future cooperation on Greenland had been reached" and abandoned the plan to impose tariffs. It is believed that this shift was partly due to Rutte's behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts.

Rutte claimed that the crux of the issue is not the sovereignty of Greenland, but rather collective security in the Arctic region. He told "Financial Daily" that "given Russia's military activities and China's growing ambitions," the region has long been a focus of American strategic attention.

"The security of the Arctic region is crucial for NATO," Rutte declared. However, he refused to make public comments on sensitive issues involving Denmark and Greenland, stating that differences between allies should be resolved privately. "Once I start expressing my views on issues between allies, my ability to solve problems will disappear."

On January 22, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiajun responded to questions related to NATO and Greenland, stating that China has always advocated handling relations between countries according to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The so-called "Chinese threat" has no basis, and China opposes using China as an excuse to gain private benefits.

Previously, Europe faced humiliation from the US on issues such as Greenland, but Rutte still found a way to flatter Trump.

The US website "Politico" European edition reported on January 21 local time that during a special session titled "Can Europe Achieve Self-Defense" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, when discussing Trump's hard-line approach to Greenland, Rutte defended him, saying that Trump's re-election as US president was actually a good thing because otherwise, NATO allies would never have voluntarily increased defense spending.

"It's impossible. Without Trump, this would never happen. Now these countries have already reached 2% of GDP for defense spending," Rutte said: "I am absolutely convinced that without Trump in office, these countries would never have made such decisions. And these decisions are crucial, especially for NATO's European and Canadian allies, which represent a key step toward (defense autonomy) maturity in the post-Cold War era."

He further added: "The US currently has more than 80,000 soldiers stationed in Europe, including troops in Poland and Germany, showing that the US still invests heavily in European defense. Indeed, the US does need to shift more strategic focus to Asia. Therefore, it is entirely logical for the US to expect us Europeans to gradually take on more defense responsibilities."

"DutchNews" noted that although many people criticize Rutte's diplomatic style, he insists that he is still focused on 'results' rather than 'recognition.'

"I don't need to win popularity awards," he told "Financial Daily": "Solving problems gives me motivation. I will continue to focus on my work and my own identity."

He continued to insist: "This summer, people were talking a lot about the term 'Dad' and the text message from Trump. If everyone has their own opinion on it, I have no problem. I will do my job in my own way."

This article is an exclusive piece from Observer Group. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7599652166899941888/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.