Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda hopes that Markas Rutte (Markas Riutė) will put pressure on the allies to finance defense more quickly after becoming the head of NATO.
“We expect from the candidate for general secretary also a call and pressure on other NATO countries that have not yet reached 2%. At the level of GDP spending on defense, it should be done as soon as possible”, the Lithuanian leader said on Tuesday.
He emphasized that 2 percent for the defense of gross domestic product (GDP) “under current circumstances, even as a minimum threshold, is too small and insufficiently adequate a task.”
This is what G. Nausėda spoke in Vilnius during a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister M. Rutte.
Some time ago, he stated that Lithuania supports this politician’s candidacy for NATO leadership.
“Lithuania supports Mr. M. Rutte’s candidacy for the position of NATO Secretary General,” the head of the country told journalists.
M. Rutte is currently considered the most realistic candidate to succeed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“He was one of those politicians who recognized Russia’s threats very early, who adapted and changed his attitude towards Russia very dramatically. And who is particularly sensitive and understands the threats to NATO’s eastern flank,” said G. Nausėda.
He was one of those politicians who recognized Russia’s threats very early, who adapted and changed his attitude towards Russia very dramatically.
He argued that it is very important to have a candidate who understands that Russia’s threats are long-term and not just military.
Mr. Rutte himself said that “campaigning for yourself is not easy.”
“In the eyes of the Netherlands, first of all we aim for the defeat of Russia and the victory of Ukraine. NATO’s eastern flank, in our opinion, must be defended, so we contribute to many initiatives aimed at the defense of the eastern flank,” said the candidate for the Alliance’s leadership.
The United Kingdom, Germany and other countries have expressed their support for the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Hungary insists it will not support Ms Rutte, who has previously criticized her government.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has also expressed his desire to seek the post of NATO leader.
After not finding a new candidate, the term of office of the current head of NATO, J. Stoltenberg, has already been extended several times.
Tags: Lithuania support Ruttes candidacy NATO leadership hoping put pressure members defense funding
