Mark Rutte doesn't care if US President Donald Trump publishes his private messages and somehow embarrasses him. "I don't mind," he stated this Monday at the European Parliament, just as he doesn't hesitate to praise the magnate time and time again.
"I will always praise Trump when things are done right," emphasized the NATO Secretary-General from the European Parliament. He does so because he believes that the US President has been instrumental in getting allies to commit to spending more on Defence, specifically mentioning Spain.
"President Trump is doing many good things. I know I am irritating many of you again, but I think this way because, as I also said in Davos, that all other NATO countries reaching 2% by the end of 2025 would never, ever have happened without Trump. Do you really think Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Canada would have decided to go from 1.5% to 2%, with Italy spending an additional 10 billion on Defence at the beginning of the year, without President Trump? No way. So, I believe he is very important for NATO," Rutte explained.
But above all, the praises from the NATO Secretary-General aim to keep Trump happy. Because "if anyone thinks Europe can defend itself without the US, keep dreaming," he emphasized.
Furthermore, following the criticisms from many MEPs during his appearance before the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence, he went on the offensive: "If Europeans want to go it alone, 5% [military spending] won't be enough for them. They will need 10% and they will need a nuclear capability that will cost them thousands and thousands of millions of euros. And you will lose the guarantee of our security, which is the nuclear umbrella provided by the United States. So, those who want to, good luck," he stressed.