Trump is good news for Nato, Mark Rutte tells BBC

NATO's commitment to allocate 5% of its members' economic output to defense is largely due to Donald Trump's influence, says outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. He characterized this as Trump's most significant foreign policy achievement.

Rutte, in an interview with the BBC, stated that NATO is currently "stronger than it ever was" because of Trump's actions. He added that Trump's policies are "good news for collective defense, for NATO and for Ukraine."

Trump has been a vocal critic of European allies, frequently pointing out their low levels of defense spending and even suggesting the possibility of withdrawing U.S. protection if spending targets weren't met.

The NATO chief's assessment comes amid warnings that Russia might attack allied nations within the next five years. Vladimir Putin has dismissed such concerns as "hysteria." Speaking to defense officials in Moscow on Wednesday, Putin stated that claims of a potential Russian threat to European countries are "a lie, nonsense, pure nonsense."

Putin's remarks follow Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent annexation of four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Russia had previously annexed Crimea in 2014. Currently, Russia occupies most of Luhansk and seeks Ukraine's withdrawal from all of Donetsk, despite Ukraine controlling approximately 23% of the eastern region.

Putin has repeatedly stated that the goals of what he refers to as the "special military operation" will be achieved. While he expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions, he cautioned that Russia would resort to military means to "liberate its historical lands" if negotiations fail.

Rutte criticized Putin's pursuit of regaining access to Ukraine or the entire former Soviet Union, deeming it "insane" that this pursuit has led to 1.1 million Russian casualties, either deaths or serious injuries.

Rutte also acknowledged Trump's efforts to find a resolution to the war. US envoys have been in intense negotiations with Ukrainian officials regarding a peace plan proposed by Trump. Initial drafts of this plan were seen as favoring Russia, potentially ceding territory in eastern Ukraine to Russia while offering security guarantees to Kyiv to prevent future Russian aggression.

US officials have indicated that Washington is prepared to offer Ukraine security guarantees modeled after NATO's Article 5, which ensures mutual protection. The NATO chief told the BBC that these guarantees would deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again, as the reaction would be devastating.

European allies, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, suggested a European-led force to assist in regenerating Ukraine's forces, securing its skies, and supporting safer seas, including operations within Ukraine.

Putin has voiced his opposition to such proposals. While asserting that Russia does not seek conflict with Europe, he also stated that Russia is ready "right now" if Europe initiates a war. Similar assurances were given by Moscow in 2022, shortly before the invasion of Ukraine.

As the war approaches its fourth anniversary, Kyiv's European allies are considering increased economic pressure on Moscow to halt the conflict. EU leaders have been debating the possibility of utilizing Russian assets frozen after the invasion to finance Ukraine's military and economic needs. This issue is a key topic at the current summit in Brussels.

Zelensky urged EU leaders to demonstrate courage on the eve of these talks. He emphasized that the summit's outcome must convince Russia that continuing the fight into the next year is pointless, as Ukraine will have the necessary support.

Russia's economy has been heavily focused on war production for over three years, with factories producing increasing quantities of drones, missiles, and artillery shells. According to a recent report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Russia is producing approximately 150 tanks, 550 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 Lancet drones, and over 50 artillery pieces each month.

The UK and most of its Western allies are not currently at this level of production. Analysts suggest that it would take Western European factories years to approach Russia's mass production capabilities.

In response to these challenges, France and Germany have recently taken steps to revive voluntary military service for 18-year-olds.