Europe Asia News

Rutte said NATO's position on Iran is clear, stating: "NATO's political position is clear that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open." He also stressed that Iran should not acquire ballistic missile capabilities, noting that this issue falls outside NATO's direct mandate.

Speaking about relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO, Rutte said disagreements can occasionally arise within the Alliance. "Sometimes families have arguments. Friends can also disagree, and that makes you stronger," he said.

Rutte stated that there is no question about Trump's commitment to NATO, saying: "We have to give Trump credit because he has made NATO much stronger." He added that Europe needs to assume greater responsibility for its own defense and noted that the U.S. President wants Europe to increase its share of the defense burden.

Commenting on the Russia-Ukraine war, Rutte said Ukraine has been effective in striking Russia's energy infrastructure. He noted that Russia is losing approximately 30,000 to 35,000 personnel every month in the war. "This is a crazy war. Being willing to sacrifice people in such a war is simply unacceptable," he said.

Rutte emphasized that NATO is not only a defensive alliance but also one that protects values such as democracy, a free press, and freedom of expression. "Democracy is not only about elections. A free and independent media is also an essential part of it," he said.

Addressing the Arctic region and discussions surrounding Greenland, Rutte pointed to the increasing activities of Russia and China in the region. "We have to deal with this together. We must address it as NATO," he said.

He added that cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners will continue, stating that collaboration with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand will be maintained in the fields of defense industry, innovation, and security.

Responding to a question about tensions between Türkiye and Greece, Rutte reminded reporters that NATO is an alliance of 32 member states. "My job is to preserve the unity of the Alliance," he said, adding that he is ready to support the resolution of disagreements through diplomatic channels and behind-the-scenes dialogue whenever necessary.