The NATO chief says that the military alliance needs to change to a “war mentality.”
NATO general secretary, Mark Rutte, said Thursday that members recognize “the need to invest much more”, making comments after the United States told the members the previous day that Europe must “responsibility for their own security “, including support for Ukraine.
“We are producing more and faster than at any time in decades, but we can and must do more to guarantee the credibility of our returns in defense in the coming years,” Routte said.
“We need to change a mentality in war times and need the industry to change with us. The demand signals are clear and will continue to grow. ”
Routte, who spoke after a meeting of defense ministers of the Alliance, said he believed that officials would return to each of their countries with a “greater sense of urgency” to increase spending.
His comments arrived a day after the United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, repeated the calls of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, which other NATO allies must make more investment.
“The United States is still committed to the NATO alliance and the Defense Association with Europe. Complete part, ”said Hegseth.
“But the United States will no longer tolerate an unbalanced relationship that foster dependence. Rather, our relationship will prioritize Europe's empowerment to be responsible for your own security. “
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A total of 23 of the 32 member countries fulfilled the organization's commitment to spend two percent of the gross domestic product in their national defense budgets last year, but a third still does not.
Canada is among those who continue to fall short.
Ukraine was also a main approach to meetings, and Routte said the alliance discussed the importance of continuous support.
Trump said Wednesday that he had spoken by phone with the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and said that Ukraine could not recover all his lands or join NATO.
The comments have given alarm for both kyiv and European allies in NATO, who said they feared that the White House could reach a deal without them.
“We, as a sovereign country, simply cannot accept any agreement without us,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He said Putin was aimed at making his bilateral negotiations with the United States, and it was important not to allow that.
When asked if Ukraine would begin a negotiation from a position of weakness, Routte did not agree.
“Even if the conversations begin, they will not end on day one or day two, so there is, say, a path in which we have to make sure the conversations are successful,” he said.
“It is important that we reach a peace agreement and, at the same time, to ensure that Putin understands that the West is united, that Ukraine is receiving all the support he needs to prevail.”
The Secretary of Defense of the United Kingdom, John Healey, told the journalists of the NATO headquarters: “There can be no negotiation on Ukraine without Ukraine. And the voice of Ukraine must be in the heart of any conversation. “
Answering the questions of journalists about European participation, Rutte said that the allies are consulting “with each other”, including the United States, and said they are working to reach the same page. “
Although what could happen during the peace conversations has not yet been seen, Routte emphasized that although the alliance promised with a future NATO membership for Ukraine, it was not part of the discussions of peace conversations.
“What I have constantly said is that we have to make sure whatever the result, we have to make sure that Vladimir Putin will never try to attack Ukraine,” he said.
“But it has never been a promise to Ukraine that, as part of a peace agreement, would be in NATO.”
– With Reuters and Associated Press files
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