NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking from Brussels ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, has dismissed any speculation regarding a potential withdrawal of US troops from Europe.
Rutte confirmed that the US has no current plans for troop withdrawal, emphasizing that Washington remains fully committed to NATO, according to The Guardian.
“The US expects European and Canadian allies to spend much more… so we need to increase spending, first and foremost, because we need to meet all capability targets and close the gaps that still exist, to ensure we can confront the Russians if they try to attack us in three to five years, but also to equalize with the United States,” Rutte stated.
Additionally, Rutte confirmed that Ukraine will be invited to the upcoming NATO summit, calling it an important step in strengthening the alliance’s partnership with Kyiv.
