Emphasis on 'North Pole' and Defense Industry from NATO Secretary General Rutte

Rutte spoke at the event titled "The Future of NATO" organized by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in the US state of Iowa.

Referring to the importance of NATO for the USA, Rutte stated that the security of Europe, the Atlantic and the Arctic is necessary to ensure the security of the USA. Rutte said that it would not be productive for the USA to do this alone and emphasized that allies contribute to common security.

Stating that allies in Europe and Canada allocated more than 250 billion dollars of additional resources to defense, Rutte noted that the increased budgets should be transformed into military capacity.

Pointing to the need for trained personnel, ships, tanks, ammunition and unmanned aerial vehicles, Rutte said that defense industry production on both sides of the Atlantic cannot meet the current demand.

Rutte noted that NATO is working with industrial organizations to increase production and trying to speed up procurement processes.

Rutte stated that the military supplies that the allies in Europe received from the USA played an important role in continuing their support to Ukraine, and stated that Ukraine's security is closely linked to the security of its allies.

In response to a question about how the agreement on Greenland was received in Europe, Rutte said that there had been difficult discussions in the last six months, but that the agreement had been received "extremely positively".

Rutte emphasized that the agreement "strengthens NATO" and stated that it is "a clear indication of a strengthened NATO that defends the Arctic region together."

Drawing attention to the activities of Russia and China in the northern regions, Rutte stated that this region, including Greenland, should be jointly protected by NATO allies.

Rutte explained that the agreement aims to ensure that the US's security investments on the island remain valid even if Greenland decides to become independent from Denmark in the future.

Rutte stated that the "Arctic Sentry" initiative launched by NATO for the security of the northern regions and the Greenland agreement should be evaluated together, and said that the agreement strengthens the Alliance.

Russia-Ukraine

In response to a question about whether the United States and Europe evaluate security threats in the same way, Rutte pointed out that the allies have a common threat analysis.

Rutte argued that if China takes action in the Asia-Pacific, Russia may try to keep NATO busy in Europe, and noted that European allies should assume more responsibility for the conventional defense of the continent.

Describing the Russian threat to NATO territory as "long-term", Rutte called on allies to remain calm in the face of hybrid attacks and unmanned aerial vehicle observations, maintain defense investments and continue support to Ukraine.

In response to a question about whether some allies would step back from supporting Ukraine in the winter months, Rutte said he had no such expectation.

Pointing out that 10 billion dollars were collected from Europe, Canada and the USA for materials to be sent to Ukraine, Rutte stated that new aid packages continue to be announced.

Defense industry forum in Ankara

In his response to a question about the future of the defense industry forum held on the margins of the Ankara Summit on July 7-8, Rutte listed his priorities as "money, industry and support for Ukraine".

Stating that they brought together the Alliance from Türkiye to the USA to increase the production of the defense industry, Rutte noted that contracts worth tens of billions of dollars were made at the forum.