NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has endorsed a new proposal by President Donald Trump that would see European nations foot the bill for supplying Ukraine with weapons drawn from American stockpiles.
Speaking alongside Trump at the White House on 14 July, Rutte said he had already secured backing from a coalition of NATO members including Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Canada.
Rutte described the initiative as a continuation of the commitments made at the recent NATO Summit, where Allies pledged to spend more on defence and increase industrial production.
“This is again, Europeans stepping up,” he said. “So I’ve been in contact with many countries. I can tell you that at this moment Germany massively, but also Finland and Denmark and Sweden and Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada: they all want to be part of this.”
The plan, which emerged following a phone call between Trump and Rutte last Thursday, involves transferring US military equipment to Ukraine at speed, with European countries paying the costs and the United States later replenishing its own stockpiles. Rutte said he had held talks at the Pentagon earlier that day and that “we discussed it this morning with Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, in a way that… the US will keep on its stockpiles necessary to defend this country.”
The aim, according to Rutte, is to get Ukraine “really massive numbers of military equipment, both for air defence, but also missiles, ammunition, etc.” These packages would be assembled based on Ukrainian requirements and coordinated through NATO systems.
Rutte argued that the announcement should serve as a warning to Russia and a signal of renewed Western unity. “If I was Vladimir Putin today, and are you speaking about what you were planning to do in 50 days, and this announcement, I would reconsider whether I should not take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously than I was doing at the moment,” he said.
The proposal marks a notable shift in burden-sharing within the Alliance and appears to reflect Trump’s longstanding insistence that European countries contribute more directly to NATO operations. While operational details remain to be finalised, Rutte emphasised the need for rapid delivery of systems to Ukraine and noted that this could involve the US backfilling weapons already sent by European partners.
“Speed is of the essence here,” he said.
Shock. We have to pay for American kit? Freeloading yanks. Mark Rutte is a pathetic wet blanket rolling over for the Draft Dodger at every opportunity.
Great plan for America. Not sure Europe is going to be as keen to funnel cash at US military companies at the expanse of domestic ones, especially not with trump putting tarrifs on European exports to the US.
From a geopolitical perspective, perhaps part of a subtle incentive plan to eventually massively increase ENATO MIC? Probably best to envision this as the opening phase in the ENATO Full Employment Act of early-mid 21st century.
Based on how trump has been acting and his Taco brand, I don’t think he is capable of doing long term planning or subtle. The art of the deal for him seems to be to go in with the sledgehammer and hope the other party immediately caves. His surrounded himself with yes men this term and that hasn’t helped as there is no one thinking ahead. That’s been very clear with how he and his inner circle have been constantly manipulated by Putin.
Maybe it’s all an amazing act by trump and he actually has a master plan, but I highly doubt it, him being constantly manipulated by Putin is a strong indicator his not all there.
Steve,
My estimation of The Donald’s capabilities varies on a daily, nay, often hourly, basis. There is absolutely no doubt that he is a transactionalist, and not in any sense an idealist. However he appears willing to make political/economic deals w/ friend and foe; albeit always seeking maximum advantage for the US and/or himself.That attitude has probably been honed by a career in NYC, no holds barred, real estate development. Believe that most ENATO leaders have learned to recalibrate political expectations for the duration of this administration. Attitudes of the CRINK leaders somewhat problematic; some probably believe he is an ignorant fool, but as was inculcated over a career, underestimating one’s opponent is also foolhardy and dangerous. Am reasonably certain The Donald would issue the order to eliminate the CRINK alliance, if deemed necessary. Cannot state that w/ the same degree of certainty re the resolve of other post war POTUS, w/ the exception of Eisenhower, Reagan, (and perhaps Bush the Elder).
All of this is preamble to the statement that The Donald has no compunction against undiplomatically pressuring allies into policies and actions which are economically and politically difficult, but necessary, as witnessed by the results of the 2025 NATO Summit (5% GDP defence expenditure target). In other words, The Donald easily assumes the Bad Cop role in any geopolitical scenario/theater. Others are left the Good Cop role. Dunno, one armchair psychologist’s analysis, probably not terribly accurate or useful…🤔😳
This is a guy that thinks his good with deals but is worth less than he inherited from his father. The one that tried to take on china and ended up backing down and giving them access to US chips in the deal. So far I don’t see any positives for the US in any of his deals, all he seems to be doing is making enemies and causing wars.
Maybe his better at domestic policies as I can’t judge that from the outside but internationally has made America a lot worse off so far, including causing serious inflation.
He looks at global trade too simplicity and that is why he keeps failing to get deals done and created the Taco brand because the markets keep crashing when he charges in without thinking things through.
So America is not so much the “Arsenal of Freedom” but rather a glorified gun store. Sure they’ll support your fight for freedom, but only if you can pay in dollars.
But it was ever this, part of what bankrupted the U.K. in WW2 was paying America for weapons.
Profit before principles.
For now it will work as Ukraine need long range air defences and the US has them ready for sale. Long term its going to kill off their military companies and the world will no longer see the US as the ally they can rely on, that has effectively built the US economy since ww2. Countries will look to other options to better ensure supplies should they need them.
To be fair it isn’t just trump, the last administration pulling out of afgan abandoning it and not informing US allies it was doing to do it, didn’t exacly help with the confidence.
It is Trump. The surrender of Afghanistan was negotiated during Trump’s first term directly with the Taliban and without the government of Afghanistan being involved. Then it was left like a landline ready for the Biden administration to step on it.
Another ‘great deal’ negotiated by Taco 🌮
Just baffles my mind that the average American believes he is this deal master, even though all the evidence indicate otherwise, both business wise and during his last term in government.
To be fair, the average American doesn’t. Only 50% voted for him, and aside from the conspiracy theorist MAGAtrons which are a noisy minority, most voted for him out of desperation.
Large parts of the USA, the ‘fly-over’ states have never recovered since the deindustrialisation of the 90s, and think both Democrats and traditional Republicans have failed them. Unfortunately they’ve voted for someone who cares even less about them.
It’s ironic and tragic.
50% makes it the average, but yeah it’s nuts