NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited the U.S. state of Iowa, where he and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker met with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and National Guard personnel.
On Tuesday, September 22, Rutte and Whitaker met with Governor Reynolds before taking part in a moderated discussion on NATO organized in Des Moines by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
“NATO may seem far away from the heart of America. But believe me, the two are inextricably linked – by history and shared values,” Rutte said.
“NATO is not just a grand ideal. We are a deeply practical Alliance that rolls up its sleeves and gets to work. I would like to think that, in that respect, we are somewhat like the people of Iowa,” he added.
Rutte highlighted the benefits NATO brings to the United States and thanked Americans for their contributions to the Alliance. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening the defense industry.
On Wednesday, Rutte and Whitaker visited the Iowa National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Dodge, where they met with Iowa Adjutant General Major General Stephen Osborn.
During the visit, they praised Iowa troops for their service, including their contributions to NATO exercises and missions, particularly the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR).
The Iowa National Guard has maintained a longstanding role in supporting security and stability in Kosovo through deployments and cooperation with KFOR.
Following his visit to Iowa, Rutte traveled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
If you want, I can also make it more BBC/Reuters-style, more concise, or stronger for a Kosovo-focused audience.
