NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the United Kingdom’s significant contributions to NATO and its ongoing support for Ukraine during his visit to London on 10 October 2024.
The visit marked Rutte’s first official trip to a NATO member country since taking office, and he held meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Defence Secretary John Healey.
During discussions, Rutte acknowledged the UK’s role in the defence of the Alliance, noting the country’s consistent commitment to NATO’s defence spending goals.
“We are really appreciative of everything the UK is doing,” Rutte said, highlighting that the UK was one of only three NATO members to invest 2% of its GDP in defence when this guideline was set at the Wales Summit a decade ago.
Rutte also announced the upcoming launch of NATO’s annual nuclear exercise, ‘Steadfast Noon’, which will begin on 14 October.
He praised the UK’s contribution to NATO’s nuclear deterrence, speaking of the importance of such exercises. “In an uncertain world, it is vital that we test our defences, and that we strengthen our defence so that our adversaries know that NATO is ready and is able to respond to any threat,” Rutte stated.
In addition to NATO’s collective defence efforts, Rutte commended the UK’s support for Ukraine, describing the country’s provision of training, artillery, and aid as “crucial” to Ukraine’s ongoing fight.
The UK currently provides £3 billion per year as part of the €40 billion financial pledge for Ukraine, agreed upon by NATO Allies at the Washington Summit.
Title is misleading
Typo in the tile.
“tile”?
How so?
Yeah, I think the title should read ‘NATO secretary general’ not ‘UN secretary general’.
Indeed!
Thanks for that, and thanks to the team for the correction.
They are correct on the title. “NATO” not “UN”.
Unless he has just been fired and he means “un-NATO” as in “not” !
Can I go off-topic and recommend an excellent report on the recent KADEX South Korean Defence Expedition by Youtuber Perun, who is a videoblogger about the Ukraine War from a Defence Economics background.
It’s a superb 1 hour report, reviewing the Korean Defence industry, and trends therein.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcFLVV1idYw
Good to have Mr Rutte as NATO leader as he’s an experienced politician and the NL don’t mess about rather deal in reality.
I hope he can educate the member countries senior politicians that the Peace Dividend was only ever a delusion that suited those who wanted to invest in popular social provision to ensure reelection not in Defence.
The Ramstein Ukraine contact group meetings need to hold members to account for delivery of their promises and to highlight that not loosing is far below the true requirement of winning.
Let’s hope that some Dutch plain speaking can cut through the cowardice and inaction we have seen so far. Playing the FSB attrition approach is bound to be a Ukrainian loss so real support for a decisive spring 25 offensive is the least that must be delivered.
I hope Mr Rutte is familiar with Gen Ben Hodges (Rtd) and will take his advice on the US contribution or lack of it, since he’s a former NATO Europe commander.
Slava 🇺🇦