NATO Secretary General doorstep statement at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, 19 NOV 2024

Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Defence format, Brussels, Belgium, 19 November 2024.

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

Good morning. It's good to be back here in this building and to meet with the Defence Ministers today. And there will be a lot to talk about, of course.

First of all, Ukraine. Today marks 1000 days after the full Russian onslaught, unprovoked, full Russian onslaught on Ukraine. So today we will discuss how we can help Ukraine to prevail. That means more aid, more money, and we have to make available to them.

Particularly now that the North Koreans have come on board. And we know that China is helping Russia with the war effort. We know that Iran is supporting Russia with the war effort. And as we also know, Putin has to pay for this. For example, with missile technology going into North Korea, which then is a direct threat, poses a direct threat, not only to us, but also to South Korea, to Japan, and even to the US mainland. So we have to make sure that Putin will not get his way, that Ukraine will prevail in this fight. And today that will be on our agenda.

Secondly, very important, defence industrial production. We need simply to do more. We have to ramp up the defence industry. And luckily, NATO and the EU are working closely together to make sure that the defence industrial base, transatlantic, will be strengthened over the coming months. We really have to do this. To replenish our stockpiles, to make sure that we stand ready to oppose any adversary.

And third, money. Clearly the 2%, great that we have achieved it on the European side of NATO overall. But it is not enough. It is clearly not enough. So we have to also make sure that we spend more on defence, to make sure that the deterrence and defence is not only there today, but also for the longer term, to make sure that we can defend ourselves.

So thank you, and willing to take a few questions. And then I'm up to meet the Defence Ministers.
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[JohnLange-cttn]

Zelenskyy: 'I Don't Need A Ride, I Need More Ammunition'

Without Ukraine's resistance, there could potentially be more than 700, 000 Russian soldiers with 9, 000 tanks, 19, 000 armored fighting vehicles and 20, 000 artillery systems in front of the Polish border. Let's think about it for a moment.

[abrahaammaidani]

Please be strong & assertive & fight against Russia. All EU show the strongest act & show EU stronger than US & do not act weak in policy & actions. Russia thing EU is not only weak, but timid. Act show the world your strength & act do. Thanks.

[joykennedy]

This guy is so on top of everything. Handles the press well.

[nyareyes]

I 100% support those fighting for Ukraine. 100% Respect, Empathy, Service to All.

[slither]

We are stronger working together. Great job General Rutte with NATO supporting Ukraine

[johnkovac]

""Russians must be held accountable for their evil deeds!""

[michelemarr]

They are heading in the right direction, but Ukraine needs help yesterday! I stand with Ukraine 💯.

[Steve-nvpd]

Help Ukrainians build their own longer-range, high-speed missiles. They need a range of minimum 500 miles.
Mr. Rutte, you are the correct man for this position.

[stellaracha]

Great Leader! Very aware of what Russia's intent is.

[SVITLANAK-wd]

Alleen samen ZIJN WIJ STERK! SAMEN NAAR DE OVERWINNING!!!

[canecorsomolosser]

Nato must help on a much higher level Ukraine.

[franko]

Full of admiration for this guy and his outstanding leadership of NATO. Thank you Mr Rutte.

[Hukkinen]

The West should invest and produce (inexpensive) DRONES for UKRAINE! – Why?

1) Ammunition manufacturing: Nammo said Europe would need 9 more factories to produce the required amount of artillery ammunition AND it needs government contracts for 20 years, 15 for payback, 5 for profit! Reasonable.

2) ~80% of casualties now come from FPV and other drones!

When you put 1 and 2 together, there's no choice, really. Or am I wrong? Better yet, PROVE ME WRONG 🙂 Thanks Rutte, great entrance 😀

[BierdopjeNL]

he has been prime minister for almost one and a half decade in the Netherlands and got in to politics in the late eighties, not everybody liked him as a PM but he is highly skilled and has a lot of experience. This job might even fit him better.

[petracollins]

This man is so on top if what needs to be done to stop Russia in its tracks. Enormous energy and enthusiasm for the task ahead.

[BobbMac]

Just as I have said before. Stoltenberg approach to Russia was dovish while Rutte is the hawkish type. The Russian annexation spree will have to stop

[nicholaswilley]

This is awesome definitely good news we got to push rushing back and let them know Nato ant messing around.

[heathermccall]

Thank You Mr Rutte. We shall not bend.

[matserdam]

Imagine you are a person that out of the blue decides to walk up to a bunch of mics and just start talking about stuff, without any questions asked.

[dizzydog]

For me, it is not a case of Ukraine prevailing more that, Ukraine wins and defeats russia.