NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned the United States and Europe yesterday against any temptation to ‘go it alone’ on security, amid increased tensions over the future of the transatlantic alliance and diverging views on Russia.
US President Donald Trump this month cast doubt on Washington’s willingness to defend Nato allies it deemed were not paying enough for their own defence, triggering alarm among European leaders as they try to shore up Ukraine in its fight against invading Russian forces.
“Let me be absolutely clear, this is not the time to go it alone. Not for Europe or North America,” Rutte said in a speech at the Warsaw School of Economics.
“The global security challenges are too great for any of us to face on our own. When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to Nato,” he added.
A number of European countries have announced plans to raise defence spending.
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