Speaking in London yesterday after meeting the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rutte said he believed that both Trump and his presidential rival, Kamala Harris, recognised the value of continuing military aid to Ukraine.
But, 10 days into the job as secretary general, the Dutchman also responded to concerns raised by the Republican nominee that levels of defence spending in Europe would have to rise, and indicated a new target of 2.5% or 3% of GDP could be set.
In an interview with the Guardian, Rutte insisted he was "not that worried about Donald Trump, as I am not worried about Kamala Harris" and went on to describe the former president as "somebody who wants to defend the US". That, he argued, required Nato membership because "without membership he is alone, and in a harsh, uncompromising world he needs the alliance".
This story is from the October 11, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the October 11, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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