Rutte made a statement regarding Trump and NATO.

NATO Secretary General: Trump understands the importance of U.S. membership in the Alliance

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that new U.S. President Donald Trump understands the importance of U.S. membership in NATO. He reassured European members of the Alliance who are concerned about Trump's statements regarding Article 5 and the obligations of NATO members.

Rutte emphasized that he had good working relations with Trump during his premiership in the Netherlands and is confident that Trump will defend the U.S. and support NATO's role in global security.

The Secretary General highlighted the threats posed by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which create a direct threat to Europe and other countries. He also noted that North Korea is assisting Russia in its military actions against Ukraine, while China and Iran supply Russia with technologies to strengthen its military capabilities.

Rutte called for international cooperation to ensure global security and expressed hopes for further cooperation with Trump after his transition to the presidency of the United States.