“Let’s not forget that Russia is and remains the most significant and dark threat to our alliance. Let’s not forget that Russia is moving to a wartime economy,” Rutte said.
Tusk underlined the importance of NATO to his country’s security. “It’s very important for us [to hear] the commitment that NATO will defend Poland in any critical situation,” he said, referring to the alliance’s common defense Article 5.
The reassurances come as there is growing worry within the alliance about United States President Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO and the disdain expressed by him and his top officials about Europe.
However, Rutte insisted that the transatlantic relationship between the U.S. and Europe is “the pillar of our alliance and that’s not changing.”
Poland has also built its security on its close relationship with the U.S. and has been careful not to cross Trump.
However, there is concern about the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia led by the U.S. administration, which Tusk admitted “we can only influence to a limited extent, to put it mildly.”