NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed his eagerness to work with Friedrich Merz, emphasizing the “vital” need for Europe to advance in defense spending.
“Congratulations to Friedrich Merz on his electoral victory today in Germany. I look forward to working with you in this critical time for our shared security. It is important that Europe increases its defense spending, and your leadership will be critical in this regard,” Rutte wrote in a post on “X.”
Earlier, Germany’s future chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly criticized the Trump administration and called on Europe to distance itself from Washington.
He stated that Europe must now wake up to face the new wave of American pressure, by creating and strengthening its own military structures, as, according to him, NATO’s future is no longer guaranteed.
