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So, good morning to you all. And let me begin by saying that I am really looking forward to today’s meeting with the defence ministers.

It will be very much about the implementation of what we decided in The Hague.

Ramping up. Canada and Europe when it comes to defence spending, across the Alliance, making sure the defence industrial base is producing the output we need to be able to deter and defend ourselves.

And obviously Ukraine, where you just heard the good news from John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, Secretary of Defence, announcing half a billion pounds in air defence, both bilateral and [through] PURL, for Ukraine.

And this is really important, because Ukraine as you know, they are really staunch, they are fighting back, but they are also still hit with missiles, etc., on their civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians. So this is important. But what you see overall is a picture of Europe and Canada stepping up, spending billions on defence, ramping up the defence industrial base, keeping Ukraine strong. So I think this is very important. We will be taking stock today, and then chart out the course towards our Summit in [Ankara].

I will take a few questions because we will see each other later today at the press conference. Sir?

Question:

Secretary General, there is Arctic Sentry, Baltic Sentry, Eastern Sentry, Steadfast Dart, Norway is doing Cold Response. Has there ever been so many NATO exercises planned in such a precise period of time as we are seeing right now?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Well thank you for that question. I am not sure if it is more right now than let’s say, ten or twenty years ago. But what it clearly shows you is that the threat is there. The long-term Russian threat is there. And we should not be in any way naive about China. And when it comes to the Arctic, it is not only Russia. It is also China. We know that the sea lanes are opening up, so we have to defend the Arctic and bring together all these various initiatives. And then charting a way ahead, making sure we identify the gaps which are there, making sure we can fill the gaps and taking into account all the latest technologies through our Allied Command Transformation.

This is exactly evidence that NATO as a whole, the US, Canada, the European Allies are working hand in hand together to make sure we can defend every inch of Allied territory. Yes, sir?

Question:

You said yesterday that the US administration is fully aware of the situation in Ukraine. So aren’t you a bit frustrated about the lack of pressure this administration is putting in…

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

I think this is not fair. Of course you can ask me any question. But I think the statement within the question is not fair. The US are putting every pressure on Russia, as the Europeans are doing, through the sanction packages. Look what has been happening with Lukoil and Rosneff and all the other stuff the US is doing. The US is still delivering crucial air defence, and all the lethal weapons into Ukraine through this PURL program, so paid for by Canadian, European Allies and partners. And the US is leading the peace effort. And there is only one country, the most powerful nation on earth, the US, which can do that, under the leadership of President Trump. Breaking the deadlock with Putin, getting the peace process going. So, I really think the US is doing exactly what we need when it comes to Ukraine.

Question:

Is the Greenland question off the table now?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Well, what I discussed in Davos - but also what we discussed within Europe, with our partners in Canada, our Allies in Canada and the United States, is that we have to defend the Arctic. This is Greenland, but also the whole Arctic. And the good news yesterday, with the launch of Arctic Sentry, that we will now bring together all the assets which we have currently available in the Arctic. Getting the whole picture. Getting NORAD involved, US NORTHCOM involved, EUCOM involved, and all the European Allies together to make sure to that we defend the Arctic against. As I said, the opening up of sea lanes, Russia increasingly active there, but also China.

Question: Are you not concerned that this renewed focused on the Arctic could pull focus off the eastern flank?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

No, NATO is so strong that we can do both. We have to basically have a 360 approach against any threat against NATO territory. Eastern Sentry, making sure our eastern flank is secure and strong and we have seen the drone incursions in Poland early in September, and we have seen what happened in Estonia a couple of weeks later in September, with the MIGs from Russia into Estonian airspace. So, we have to make sure that we defend every inch of Allied territory. So Eastern Sentry is important, Baltic Sentry, making sure that we protect the undersea sea cables and critical infrastructure, but of course also the Arctic – and this is Greenland but also the rest of the Arctic: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark through Greenland, Iceland, Canada and the US. Focusing of course primarily on the area where our Supreme Allied Commander is working with.

Question:

European Allies bulking up for a while for the US posture review. Do you think Elbridge Colby today will have reassuring message that it won’t be as bad, as big, as fast, as expected?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

What I see happening over the last year is the US, and Elbridge Colby has been important here because he has always been an advocate of Europe stepping up. The US leadership team and the leadership of President Trump, and Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Rubio, indeed also Under Secretary Colby, they have always consistently pleaded for Europe doing more, Canada doing more, taking more care of defence for NATO territory, of course in conjunction with the United States. I predict that in the long term you will see of course the nuclear umbrella as the ultimate guarantor of security here in Europe and Canada, but also a strong conventional presence of the US here in Europe - which is crucial. We all know this. And NATO is not only there to protect Europe and Canada. It is also there to protect the United States. And for the United States to be secure, you need a strong and secure Arctic, a secure Europe, but also a secure Atlantic. So we are in this together. This is how this Alliance was founded 77 years ago, 77 years ago in 1949. Final question?

Question:

Are you expecting tension in the room today between Denmark and the US over Greenland, or have you managed to sort of ease the Alliance through that crisis? And are you disappointed that Pete Hegseth isn’t coming? Is that a signal that the US actually isn’t that interested in the transatlantic bond?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Well on the first question, what I am seeing is that as an Alliance we came together to discuss the threat assessment when it comes to the Arctic. Which is yes Greenland, but also the whole of the Arctic area, including our new members, our new Allies from Sweden and Finland, who bring a lot of experience when it comes to this. Take Norway, which has been in the Alliance for so long, I think from the start if I am right. But Norway bringing this incredible experience and knowledge when it comes to the protection of the High North. I know this because Dutch marines have always been training there. So not personally having that knowledge, but my brother and knowing my friends who were training there in cold weather conditions. So we have that collective experience in NATO that we have to defend the Arctic.

This is what the Greenland discussion was about, but also what the wider Arctic discussion is about. And I think with Arctic Sentry and trilateral talks ongoing between Greenland, Denmark and the United States, this is all important to make sure we prevent Russia and China from getting access, but also to protect the whole region.

And when it comes to Secretary Hegseth. I mean, I am in regular contact with him and all the senior officials within the United Sates. Of course, the American President number one, the overall leader of the US, but also his whole foreign leadership and defence, Secretary of War leadership team. But hey, they have to take care of the whole world. This is the United States. NATO is very important. But there is also the Western hemisphere, there is also the Indo-Pacific. I totally accept that and I agree with that. And I had dinner last night with Elbridge Colby, I think he has been a consistent voice of: hey Europe, do more. Because as the United States, we also have to pivot more towards the Indo-Pacific. Let’s make sure that collectively we keep Europe strong, and Canada and the United States, so NATO territory, but also make sure that we keep our eyes in the Indo-Pacific and not be naive about China.

So having him today in the room I think really has added value. I am happy he is here. I totally accept Pete Hegseth also has to take care of all these other responsibilities. Thank you so much and we will see each other today at the presser around three o’clock.