|
Former U.S. President Trump has sparked outrage in Europe,
saying that if re-elected in November he would not defend NATO
allies who fail to spend enough on defense.
"We should stop moaning and whining and nagging about Trump,"
Rutte told the Munich Security Conference.
He added: "It's up to the Americans. I'm not an American, I
cannot vote in the U.S. We have to work with whoever is on the
dance floor."
He said Europe should in any case be spending more on defense
and ramping up ammunitions production, not just because Trump
might come back.
He said Europe needed to increase its support for Ukraine
because it was in its interests.
Rutte, who unexpectedly announced his departure from Dutch
politics in July, has said he does not know if he is being
considered a front-runner to lead NATO and would not start a
personal campaign.
"And all that whining and moaning about Trump. I hear that
constantly over the last couple of days. Let's stop doing that,"
Rutte said, adding that after talking with U.S. politicians in
Munich he was "cautiously optimistic" that a U.S. military aid
package that has stalled would eventually pass.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been in post since
2014 and is due to step down in October 2024.
His term was extended in July for a fourth time, as the
alliance's 31 members opted to stick with an experienced leader
rather than try to agree on a successor with Russia's war in
Ukraine raging on NATO's doorstep.
Before NATO decided to stick with Stoltenberg, diplomats said
Rutte would have been a strong candidate to succeed him, but the
Dutchman had insisted he was not available at that time.
(Reporting by John Irish; editing by Giles Elgood)
[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
