NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said today that the alliance is on a stronger path, gradually reducing dependence on a single ally, as foreign ministers gathered for a summit in Sweden, Anadolu reports.

“The trajectory we are on, which is a stronger Europe and a stronger NATO, is ensuring over time, step by step, that we are less dependent on just one ally, as we have has been for so long,” Rutte told reporters before the meeting.

He stressed that this change will give the US more room to focus on other priorities as European allies increase defense spending. “This is necessary not only to equalize what you are spending with the US, but also to make sure that we have what we need to define the defense against our adversaries,” Rutte added.

The NATO chief underlined that the US will continue to play a key role in Europe in both nuclear and conventional defense as the Europeans take on greater responsibility.

“The Europeans have heard the message when it comes to the basics. European. These are bilateral commitments by European countries with the US so that the US can use these bilateral commitments for operations they have elsewhere in the world,” he said.

His comments came amid recent US criticism of some alliance members for not allowing the use of their military bases during the war in Iran. Rutte reaffirmed that European allies are fulfilling what the US can expect under bilateral commitments regarding access to their military bases.

He noted the efforts of European allies in the Strait of Hormuz, saying “we can be of maximum use as European allies with the US”.

“The Strait of Hormuz is currently blocked and free movement navigation is seriously under threat here. So, of course, this is also an interest for all allies, not for NATO perhaps as an alliance, but clearly wherever we can help, we will be there,” added Rutte.

Source: prizrenpost