Rutte: NATO will 'remain united' whoever wins US election

(Patria) - NATO will remain united regardless of who wins the US election, the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday in Berlin, AFP reported.

"Whoever wins these elections, we will work with Kamala Harris, we will work with Donald Trump and ensure that the alliance remains united," Rutte said alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Rutte said he had "no doubt" that whoever wins the election would continue to support NATO because it is "in the interest of the United States".

Western allies fear turbulent times for the alliance if Trump wins the election. The alliance suffered a blow during his presidency from 2017 to 2021 as he berated allies over what he said was insufficient defense spending.

Trump said in February that he would encourage the Russians to do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO allies who do not pay more for collective defense. Harris has often pointed to Trump's remarks and said that, like President Joe Biden, she would work with allies and stand by NATO.

Western allies also fear that a Trump presidency could mean a reduction in military aid to Ukraine from the US. Rutte said that reports of North Korean troops in Russia mean it is important to do "everything we can to preserve not only the Euro-Atlantic but also the Indo-Pacific".

"This motivates us to do even more," he said, calling Pyongyang's support "a very serious development and escalation".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested NATO membership when he recently presented his "Victory Plan" to Western allies. Rutte said that bilateral security agreements signed between several countries and Ukraine are a "bridge to NATO membership in the long term".

"I am absolutely convinced that Ukraine will be a member of NATO one day," he said.