Germany to continue commitment to NATO defense! German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Описание: Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/eudebates German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday said Germany will continue its commitment to strengthening defense forces in the coming years, including modernizing the Bundeswehr with the special fund of 100 billion euros (108 billion US dollars).

Scholz made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Berlin.

Noting that Germany has reached the target of spending 2 percent of its economic output on defense for the first time this year, Scholz said that "we will continue resolutely down this path."

"All NATO allies must invest more, and I trust that Germany will continue to step up," Rutte said at the press conference.

During the visit, the two sides discussed continued support for Ukraine.

New NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is confident that the United States will remain in the defence alliance, even if Donald Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States.

Rutte, in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF on Monday evening, said he believes the US and presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris stand behind NATO.

The interview comes as US voters head to the polls to elect a new president. More than 75 million citizens have already voted, but the remainder of the some 240 million eligible voters need to cast their ballot on Tuesday for it to count.

Both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also the security of the US, the NATO chief said, adding that a president must ensure that their country is safe.

Rutte said that both candidates are aware that the security of the US is closely tied to NATO.

Statements by Trump in the past had raised doubts about whether the US, under his leadership, would fully adhere to the alliance's commitment to mutual defence. Trump even threatened at times to withdraw the US from NATO.

Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, took over the role of NATO secretary-general on October 1 and on Monday was in Berlin for his inaugural visit to Germany in that capacity.

Rutte has a reputation for being particularly adept at handling Trump and reportedly has had a comparatively good relationship with him. During a meeting in 2019, Trump said that he and the then-Dutch premier had become friends.

NATO will stay united no matter who wins the US election, the alliance's secretary general Mark Rutte said in Berlin Monday, as Washington's allies nervously await the outcome of the vote.

"Whoever wins those elections, we will work with Kamala Harris, we will work with Donald Trump, and make sure that the alliance stays united," Rutte said alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Rutte said he had "no doubt" that whoever wins the election would continue to support NATO because it is "in the interest of the United States".

Western allies fear turbulent times ahead for the defence alliance formed at the start of the Cold War if Trump wins Tuesday's knife-edge election.

The alliance took a hit under Trump's 2017-2021 presidency as he berated allies for what he said was insufficient spending.

Trump warned in February he would encourage the Russians to do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO allies that do not pay more on joint defence.

Harris meanwhile has frequently pointed to Trump's remarks as she promises, like President Joe Biden, to work with allies and stand by NATO.

Western allies also fear a Trump presidency could mean a reduction in military aid for Ukraine from the US, which has driven NATO-wide support for Kyiv and been its biggest backer.

Rutte said reports of North Korean troops in Russia meant it was important to do "everything we can to keep not only the Euro-Atlantic but also the Indo-Pacific safe".

"This motivates us to step up to do even more," he said, labelling support by Pyongyang a "very serious development and an escalation".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a request to join NATO when he recently presented his "Victory Plan" to Western allies.

Rutte said bilateral security agreements signed between several countries and Ukraine were "a bridge to NATO membership in the longer term".

"I'm absolutely convinced that one day Ukraine will be a member of NATO," he said.

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