NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Washington next week in what a spokesperson for the military alliance described as a prearranged visit. This visit comes following President Donald Trump’s criticism of European allies regarding differences on the Iran conflict.
“NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed the upcoming visit, stating that the Secretary-General will be in DC next week as planned,” said the spokesperson. A White House official also verified the visit.
Details regarding the trip were not immediately provided.
President Trump had mentioned the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from the Western military alliance due to European members’ reluctance to dispatch ships to the Strait of Hormuz. During remarks made at an Easter lunch with allies at the White House, Trump singled out France and the United Kingdom, labeling them as a “paper tiger.”
Established in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat, NATO comprises European nations, the U.S., and Canada, serving as a fundamental pillar of Western security. Trump criticized certain NATO allies, expressing hopes that their support would not be necessary in the future.
“We’ve had some very bad allies in NATO,” Trump remarked. “Hopefully, we’re never going to need them. I don’t think we will need them.”
– Ends