NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on members of the military alliance to increase aid to Ukraine. Especially in view of the new American government under President Donald Trump, the Dutchman vowed at the World Economic Summit in Davos that NATO partners would commit to higher defense budgets.
“We still need American involvement in Ukraine,” Rutte said. If the new government is willing to continue supplying Ukraine with its defense industry, the Europeans will foot the bill. He is firmly convinced of that. “We have to be ready for that,” Rutte continued. At the start of his second term, Trump said earlier this week that Europe must do more to support Ukraine.
‘Two percent of GDP is not nearly enough’
Rutte did not specifically address the question of how high the defense budgets of the individual NATO states should be. However, these should certainly be higher than two percent; this value is “not nearly enough”.
Trump recently demanded that allies spend five percent of their gross domestic product on defense in the future. For many NATO countries, this would mean more than doubling their defense spending.
Front in Ukraine ‘moving in the wrong direction’
Rutte emphasized that it is crucial that Russia does not win the war of aggression against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin would prevail in this case, giving a high five to the leaders of North Korea and China. Support to Ukraine should not be reduced, but rather increased, the NATO chief said. “The front line is moving in the wrong direction.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
