“It is a threat to the US”

The former Dutch Prime Minister has continued in Budapest with his seduction offensive to convince Trump to maintain its military and financial support for Ukraine. Rutte’s line of argument is that Russia’s war of aggression is part of a broader framework in which a new ‘axis of evil’ is involved that also includes North Korea, Iran and China. An ‘axis of evil’ that not only puts the security of Europe at risk but also represents a direct threat to the United States. Pyongyang has already sent soldiers to Russia and in return Moscow provides technological aid.

“This role of North Korea basically illustrates how These countries work together: China, North Korea, Russia and, of course, Iran. And this is increasingly a threat, not only to the European part of NATO, but also to the United States, because Russia is giving the latest technology to North Korea in exchange for North Korea’s help in the war against Ukraine. “, said the Secretary General of NATO in Budapest.

“If Russia were successful in Ukraine, we would have an emboldened Russia on our borderwhich would have gained territorial mass, which would have gained the enormous Ukrainian Defense Force, but also the ability of the Ukrainian people. So that would be a threat not only to Europe, to the European part of NATO, but also to the United States,” Rutte insisted.

The NATO Secretary General wants to sit down with Donald Trump as soon as possible to “discuss how we can collectively confront these threats and what we need to do more.” In his strategy of flattering the Republican candidate (which has been shown to have worked in the past) Rutte has insisted that he “you are absolutely right” in demanding that Europeans increase their defense spending.

“I want to congratulate President Trump again on his re-election. It has really been a great success for him, since he has also won the House (of Representatives) and the Senate. I am looking forward to working with him again. When he was president it was him who in NATO encouraged us to exceed 2% (of defense spending). Thanks to him, NATO – without counting the US figures – is above 2%. I firmly believe that this is his work, his success“insisted the head of the Atlantic Alliance.

Also the outgoing president of the European Council, Charles Michelhas argued that Trump cannot ignore Ukraine because that would have serious consequences for his own country. “I trust North American society. I am sure that American society knows that it is in their interest to show firmness towards authoritarian regimes. If the US is weak towards Russia, what would that mean for China?” he said.

The rest of the European leaders who have traveled to Budapest (the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has stayed in Madrid because of DANA and the Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived late due to the fall of his coalition Government) They have also insisted on their willingness to get along with Trump. “We have to do everything possible to maintain a good relationship with the United States, the transatlantic alliance is the most important alliance for us,” said the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen.

At the same time, EU leaders assume that they cannot depend on the US security umbrella and that they have to do more on defense. “The future of Europe is in our hands, we have to act now“says the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

“Our security is not something we want to outsource to others, particularly the United States. Europe must be able to do it itself. US and EU security would be better if we worked together and I hope we can work together. But we are not going to outsource our security,” says Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo.

“We have to send a clear message to the United States and the new administration: that we will support Ukraine as much as necessary and as long as it takes. This message must be clear and strong. Secondly, it is clear that Europe has to do more for its own defense and security, strengthen it. It is an important message for Trump,” says Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

The French president, Emmanuel Macronhas summarized the dilemma facing the EU in a conflict between carnivores and herbivores. “The world is made of herbivores and carnivores. If we decide to remain herbivores, the carnivores will win and we will be a market for them. I think we must choose to be omnivores: we do not want to be aggressive but we do want to know how to defend ourselves. “But I don’t want Europe to be a huge theater inhabited by herbivores that carnivores, according to their agenda, come to devour.”