Doorstep statement

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Thank you so much. Yeah, it's good to be in Dublin, and I think this EPC is exactly the right form. We have most of the European nations here, we have Canada. And all these countries are facing the same threat: threats from Russia, but also threats from Russia working together with countries like Iran, China, and North Korea. So today we'll very much focus on this question: how can we stay ahead of that threat?

That means money. A lot is happening there. European NATO Allies and Canada are spending a quarter of a trillion extra just in two years, 2025 and 2026, combined. But we still need to do more. Second, industrial output, defence industrial output. We need more weapon systems, more gear to protect ourselves. A lot is happening here, but also here, more has to happen. And then, of course, Ukraine: making sure Ukraine is as strong as possible in this fight. Europeans and Canada doing a lot, the US still providing crucial aid into Ukraine, paid for by Europeans and Canada, but also here, collectively, we need to do more to make sure that Ukraine can get through winter and is as strong as possible in the negotiations with Russia.

And then finally, there is this other threat: hybrid: cyber attacks, arson. And here we need a whole of society approach. It's not just the governments, it's the whole of society - companies being prepared to defend themselves, protect themselves, being resilient. The whole of society to be resilient. And you see this hybrid attacks all over Europe at the moment. And today we will very much also discuss how can we make sure that the whole society is as resilient as possible. Not only governments, but industry and the whole society.

Question

Can I ask you about the meeting tonight? Jared Kushner will come here with Witkoff straight from Moscow. What do expect and what has to be on the table? Does Europe need a seat on the table and will this be the message tonight?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Well, let's first of all acknowledge that coming out of Abu Dhabi, the very much positive news is that what you see is the US and Europe and Ukraine being very much aligned - same position. And of course, now the US negotiators in Moscow, so they will do their utmost to bring this to a good result, but this is very much dependent now on Russia. Is Russia willing to play ball, and of course, later today we have to assess the situation.

Question

From NATO officials who have been in Abu Dhabi, is there any evidence that Russia is serious this time? And also, do you have an update on the transfer of Patriot systems to Ukraine? We've heard that potentially there might be an issue around US political willingness to transfer.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

I can say on the second issue that all deliveries within this so-called PURL program, so this is the American gear going into Ukraine, is still continuing, including air defence. So that's the positive.

Question

Patriots?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Including Patriots. On the first, clearly, I think we should now aim for today to make it into a maximum success. Hopefully, it's there. It all depends now on the Russians whether they are willing to play ball. So, it doesn't make a lot of sense for me to comment on yesterday. We are now at today, and let's see tonight where that ends up.

Question

Does Ireland need to step up its defence spending as sort of the weak underbelly of Europe, given the hybrid attacks we've seen here in the last [inaudible]?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Ireland is outside NATO, so not for me to comment.

Question

You said in an interview that Portugal and Spain might perceive Russia’s threat as distant. The Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister said that your statement was regrettable. Is there anything you’d like to clarify as to Portugal’s perception on the war in Ukraine?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Listen, I have no criticism of Portugal or Spain, because they are doing exactly what we need to do: ramping up defence spending and ramping up defence industrial output. What I am saying all over Europe, and not only when it comes to Portugal and Spain, is that sometimes the populations - not the politicians, but the people in the country - sometimes - this is not only for Portugal or Spain, again, this is all over Europe - they sense that there is a difference between the countries on the eastern flank, like Estonia, Poland, and others. And the only thing I'm saying is that these latest Russian missiles take five minutes longer to reach Dublin or Amsterdam or Madrid or Italy, Rome, than it takes them to reach Tallinn or Vilnius.

Question

But are you going to meet the Portuguese Prime Minister today to explain? Because Portugal said that…

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

I don’t think I have anything to explain.

Question

What role does NATO play in any security guarantees after [inaudible]?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Well, clearly you have seen that the Europeans and the United States, in a very successful meeting in January this year in Paris, came to joint conclusions on how these security guarantees should be sketched out, mapped out, including Türkiye and other key European nations playing a role there. The US providing a clear backstop, so this is all basically done. It's there, but now of course we need a peace deal or at least a ceasefire, and that's of course what everybody is working so hard to achieve. Final question.

Question

Can you comment on Türkiye’s role in NATO, especially considering the situation, the tensions in the Middle East?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Well, clearly Türkiye is a key Ally in NATO. You're there almost from the start. You have one of the biggest militaries in Europe. You have one of the biggest defence industrial bases in Europe. So, Türkiye, from every angle, is a key Ally and highly respected by the other 31. Thank you so much. Maybe we see each other later today. Thanks.