NATO is stable, as is the US commitment to the alliance, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday, the 2nd of April, responding to growing concerns about the withdrawal of US forces from Europe, and the new US ambassador sought to reassure European allies on Thursday that Washington will remain committed to the alliance despite President Donald Trump’s harsh words, according to Politico and Reuters.
“Americans have again and again shown that they are committed to NATO, Article 5 … I am absolutely convinced that this alliance is there to stay with the United States,” he told reporters.
This commitment comes “with a clear expectation, an expectation that on this side of the Atlantic and in Canada we will spend more” on defence, he added.
The alliance aims to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence, but Trump wants that target to be raised to 5%. Rutte has suggested “significantly more than 3%”.
THE ISSUE WILL BE DISCUSSED AT A MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE’S FOREIGN MINISTERS IN BRUSSELS ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
Trump’s comments that he will not defend NATO countries that do not spend enough on defence and his threat to invade Greenland raise doubts about Washington’s commitment to NATO and European defence.
The Washington Post reported on plans to start moving US troops and weapons from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region, while NBC News said the US administration could hand over the role of Commander-in-Chief Europe, the alliance’s top military official, to a European.
Rutte dismissed questions about these reports. “These are questions about what ifs. I haven’t seen anything more than these rumours and reports. I have not seen any concrete proposals on this issue,” he said.
“There are no plans to withdraw or anything else, we know that the US is fully committed to NATO,” he added.
Also on Thursday, ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Rutte said that the US has no plans to withdraw its troops from Europe quickly, despite the fact that it is urging European countries to commit to their defence. He added that the US, as a superpower, needs to focus on several regions, which is why this discussion is ongoing.
MATTHEW WHITAKER, WHO TOOK UP HIS POST AS THE NEW U.S. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE IN NATO, SAID HE WAS TAKING UP HIS POST AT A “CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE”.
“Under President Trump, NATO will be stronger and more effective than ever before,” he said in a statement. “But NATO’s viability depends on every ally doing its fair share.”
European ministers are also likely to use the meeting to try to influence Trump’s opening of talks with Russia over its war in Ukraine.
A senior NATO diplomat said there is unease among Europeans that they are not yet engaged in negotiations that are important for Europe’s security.