NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking at Tapa Army Base in Estonia on 23 October 2024, delivered a strong message emphasising unity, collective defence, and NATO’s singular approach to maintaining security across all member states.
His remarks, supported by Estonian President Alar Karis, reiterated NATO’s commitment to its allies in the face of growing global security challenges, particularly those posed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Rutte highlighted NATO’s unified strength, particularly through its battlegroups stationed in Estonia and other eastern members of the Alliance. He underscored the importance of solidarity, stating, “You stand shoulder-to-shoulder with your Estonian brothers and sisters in uniform. You all embody the spirit of NATO. All for one and one for all. Together we defend Estonia’s freedom every day. And Estonia will never be alone again.”
This message reinforced NATO’s unwavering resolve to defend all its members.
A significant part of his speech was dedicated to NATO’s continued support for Ukraine, which he linked directly to the security of all member nations. “We will continue to step up our deterrence and defence. And increase our support to Ukraine, because Ukraine’s security is our security,” he said.
Rutte made it clear that NATO sees any threat to Ukraine as a threat to the wider Alliance, and will continue to provide crucial support.
Addressing concerns from NATO’s eastern states about their proximity to Russia, Rutte made it clear that all member states share the same commitment to collective security. “Every one of 1 billion people living in NATO territory live on the eastern flank. Maybe not literally, but it is not you alone. You are not alone. We all have to go through this together,” he remarked, assuring Estonia and its neighbours that NATO stands united against any potential threats.
In response to a question about whether NATO could function at different speeds, similar to the European Union, Rutte firmly dismissed the idea. “We have a one-speed NATO. There is not a two-speed NATO,” he said.
While acknowledging that individual countries may have varying policies, such as Hungary’s approach to supporting Ukraine, he mentioned that these do not hinder NATO’s collective objectives. President Karis echoed this sentiment, stating that in NATO, “what matters is our collective speed.”
Rutte’s address left no doubt that NATO remains committed to its core values of unity, collective defence, and maintaining a strong deterrent against aggression, with the same level of commitment from all its members.
