NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this Tuesday that does not comment on discussions between alliesin reference to the threats from the United States to take Greenland by force if he cannot reach an agreement with Denmark to take control of the island, just 24 hours before representatives of both countries meet in Washington.
“Now This is not the time to act alone. And now is not the time to create barriers between us,” Rutte said during a speech at a forum organized by the liberal group in the European Parliament. However, asked about Washington’s threat to invade Greenland, the Dutchman was much more cautious. “I will never comment when there are conversations between allies. It is not my responsibility,” he defended. “When there are discussions between allies, my role is to make sure we solve the problems“.
Asked directly Whether it is acceptable for one ally to threaten another with using force to occupy its territory, the secretary general of NATO, whose leadership has been questioned since the arrival of President Donald Trump to the White House, has insisted that will not comment publicly on talks between the United States and Denmark. Rutte has assured that works to guarantee the security of the High North with all allies.
“We are taking the next steps to continue moving forward, because we all agree in NATO that When it comes to protecting the Arctic, we must work together“, stressed the Dutchman. In some way, with his posture, Rutte questions US strategybut avoids any type of censorship or direct confrontation with Trump.
A controversial position
In Rutte’s eyes, if the world is talking about Arctic security, It’s thanks to the president of the United States. “It was President Trump in his first term who basically alerted us to the fact that the sea lanes are opening, that Russia and China are more active and that we have to do more together there,” said the Dutchman.
A interpretation received with little less than skepticism by the MEPs who participated this Tuesday in a discussion with the secretary general. The Danish MEP Stine Bose has questioned Rutte, recalling that he is “the guy who takes care of all of us” and that Greenland residents are “stressed” and “more than worried” in the face of threats from the United States.
Rutte has not wavered, repeating over and over again that he will not comment on any discussion between allies. “As far as the Arctic region is concerned, we must work together as an alliance. That is exactly what we are doing,” said the Secretary General, despite the fact that Washington insists on taking control of the island, precisely because does not trust the commitment of the rest of the countries in the region and considers their efforts insufficient.
Given Rutte’s elusive answers, Belgian MEP Hilde Vautmans has expressed what many in Brussels and some other capitals think about the leadership of the secretary general. “I must say that As leader of the Netherlands, you dared to say more“, declared Vautsmans.
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