The head of NATO informed Marco Rubio of his desire to work together on Ukraine, Russia and China


NATO Secretary General Mark Ruttemaintained this Wednesday a telephone conversation with the new Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubiowith whom he hoped to work together on issues such as the war in Ukraine, Russia or China.
“Good call from Davos with the new Secretary of State Rubio. “Fantastic to have him on board!” Rutte said on his social networks from the World Economic Forum being held in that Swiss city.
The former Dutch Prime Minister said he was “looking forward to welcoming NATO and working together on Ukraine, Russia and China”.
“Increasing defense spending in Europe and boosting transatlantic defense production makes us all stronger,” concluded the allied secretary general. Rutte has previously expressed gratitude to the US president, donald trumpfor having pressured allies to increase military spending during his first term (2017-2021).
Since the allies set out in 2014 to invest 2% of their GDP in defense within ten years, 23 of them have already reached that goal according to the latest estimates.
In previous statements, Rutte has been “absolutely convinced” that the United States will remain within NATO despite Trump’s criticism to the economic contributions of allies in defense.

However, the Secretary General has asked that European allies and Canada not give arguments to Washington about their possible withdrawal from the organization and increase their military spending.
The European Union cannot depend on the United States for its defense and military spending must increase and security preparedness to help Ukraine and deter Russia from attacking more of its neighbors, senior EU officials warned on Wednesday.
“Don’t ask the United States what it can do for our security. “Ask yourselves what we can do for our own security,” declared the Polish Prime Minister. Donald Tuskwhose country holds the presidency of the EU, paraphrasing a quote from the US president’s inaugural speech John F. Kennedy in 1961.
In a speech to EU lawmakers, Tusk urged the 27-nation bloc to “take control” of its own security and identify its weaknesses. “If Europe wants to survive, it must be armed”he stated.
Anxiety mounts as Trump seeks to quickly end war in talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin on terms that are unfavorable to Ukraine, or that once again refuses to defend European allies from increasing their military budgets.
“We must believe in our power again,” Tusk told the assembly in Strasbourg, France. “We are strong, we are at the level of the greatest powers in the world. “All we have to do is believe in it.”
Tusk said his country is spending about 5% of its gross domestic product on its defense budget, more than any NATO ally, including the United States. He urged his European partners to match that rate at least until Russia backs down.
“It is today that we need to radically increase our defense spending (but) not forever and ever.”
(With information from EFE and AP)