The Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, stated during his visit to Skopje that the alliance is not involved in the conflict in the Middle East, but it will defend every centimeter of its member states’ territory.
Rutte added that the objective of the U.S.- and Israel-led campaign in Iran is to neutralize the regime’s nuclear and missile capabilities, which he described as a threat to the region, Israel, and Europe.
He also described Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as responsible for the deaths of thousands of protesters this year and for dozens of terrorist acts over the decades.
The NATO chief emphasized that no one has requested the alliance’s direct involvement in the conflict, although many member states are providing support individually.
According to Rutte, NATO commanders work every day to ensure the security of allied nations against various threats — including terrorism.
