NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte described US Vice President JD Vance’s recent speech as 'philosophical' during a gathering in Munich, Germany. Rutte emphasized Vance's focus on the unity between the US and Europe, highlighting their shared values of free speech and democracy.
In his speech, Vance criticized European leaders for allegedly stifling free speech and avoiding collaboration with hard-right political parties. Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius condemned Vance's remarks as 'unacceptable.'
Rutte acknowledged the US's concerns regarding NATO spending disparities, noting the country's frustration with its higher defense expenditure compared to other member states. He urged Europe to 'grow up' and take responsibility for its defense commitments.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently reiterated the Trump administration's call for NATO members to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense spending.
Rutte also revealed that senior American officials have stressed the urgency of resolving the conflict in Ukraine promptly. He emphasized the importance of reaching a robust agreement in Ukraine to safeguard European and NATO security interests, cautioning against a weak deal that could embolden other global players like China.
