NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that senior officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration are working to negotiate a peace agreement for Ukraine.
In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Rutte named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and presidential adviser Jared Kushner among those involved in diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine.
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During the interview on “Special Report,” Rutte also praised Trump’s foreign policy decisions, particularly recent US actions targeting Iran’s nuclear program.
“I think the president is doing exactly what is needed, degrading Iran’s nuclear capability,” Rutte said.
“Could you imagine if Iran would get its hands on a nuclear weapon? This is an exporter of chaos. It is an exporter of terrorism. It would be devastating for the region. It would be devastating for the whole world,” he added.
Rutte argued that Trump’s leadership has contributed to stronger defense commitments within NATO and encouraged member states to increase military spending.
“When you look at the numbers of the investments NATO countries are now making in their own defense, it is staggering,” Rutte said.
NATO tensions remain
Rutte’s comments came after Trump criticized NATO allies for what he described as insufficient support for the US.
“The numbers that we spend are so crazy on NATO, and they weren’t there for us,” Trump said on Monday.
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Responding to those remarks, Rutte said he understood Trump’s frustrations but argued that NATO allies have provided significant support to US military operations.
He noted that around 500 US aircraft used Italian bases during Operation Epic Fury, while Romania adjusted civilian flight operations to support American military logistics.
Rutte also said European allies continue to help secure the Strait of Hormuz during the war in Iran.
“You see now massive European allies pre-positioning their assets close to the Strait so as to be able to help, for example, when it comes to demining,” he said.
Rutte, who is expected to meet Trump on Wednesday, said recent US actions demonstrate the leadership needed to maintain the alliance’s security.
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