NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said European allies and Canada must take greater responsibility for their own security, describing the change as part of what he called the Alliance’s most significant transformation since the Cold War, according to NATO.
Speaking at the annual German Heads of Mission Conference in Berlin, Rutte referred to the shift as “NATO 3.0”, arguing that the relationship between Europe and the United States is changing as European allies assume a larger share of the defence burden.
He said the change required a different mindset, adding that “security is not something the US should do for us, but with us.”
Rutte singled out Germany’s role in the Alliance, pointing to its new armoured brigade permanently stationed in Lithuania, the First German-Netherlands Corps taking on a new command role on NATO’s eastern flank, and German aircraft and warships supporting deterrence and defence activity.
He also linked the military shift to increased defence production across Europe. Rutte said: “You are producing more, and doing more for our Alliance.”
He added: “Revitalising our defence industrial base is not only good for our security – it is good for our economies too.”
The remarks come as NATO continues to push European members towards greater responsibility for conventional defence, industrial capacity and the forces required to reinforce the Alliance’s eastern flank.
Rutte also addressed what NATO described as a Russian hybrid attack at Leipzig airport, expressing solidarity with Germany.
He said: “NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany. You have 31 friends and Allies by your side.”
With a traitor imbecile in the WH we really do need to step up. The complacency under both Tories & Labour is deafening. The same authoritarian criminal fascism could take root here if we’re not careful. Plans to up our game would shame even a snail. We remain incredibly weak & vulnerable.