NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum that "well-thought-out diplomacy" is needed to resolve tensions over Greenland, while also underscoring Donald Trump's merits for increasing defense spending among European allies.
As US President Donald Trump traveled to Davos to promote American claims over Greenland, Rutte sought to shift the focus from territorial disputes to a broader vision of security, saying this discussion should take place "behind the scenes."
Rutte said he agrees with Trump about the strategic importance of the north.
"When it comes to the Arctic, I think President Trump is right. We need to protect the Arctic from Russian and Chinese influence," said the leader of the world's most powerful military alliance.
However, he also stressed the importance of the defense budget. Rutte said that without Trump's pressure, many major European economies - including Spain, Italy and Belgium - would not reach the target of spending two percent of GDP on defense by 2025.
He also mentioned Poland as a close US ally and noted challenges in producing military equipment.
Referring to Trump's doubts about Europe's willingness to help under NATO's Article 5 (that an attack on one member is an attack on all), Rutte said Europe would do so, citing post-9/11 assistance as an example.
He added that a secure Arctic, a secure Atlantic, and a secure Europe are essential for US security.
Despite the tensions over Greenland - which led Trump to threaten tariffs on European allies and the EU to consider countermeasures - Rutte stressed that NATO is essential not only for Europe but also for any defense of America. /Telegraph/
