“We haven’t discussed it,” Rutte said in an interview with Sky News on Thursday.
“It wasn’t mentioned last night.”
“What I can say is that we talked about his idea, his vision,” Rutte said, clarifying that he and Trump focused on how NATO can “save the Arctic from the Russians and the Chinese.”
After meeting with Rutte on Wednesday, Trump announced on the social network Truth Social that he was backing off an earlier threat to impose tariffs on European countries for interfering with the US takeover of Greenland.
The head of NATO also told Sky News that he does not consider the president’s new position a “turn”.
“I don’t think there is a turnaround,” Rutte said. He explained that Trump “began to direct European and Canadian allies to the Arctic, Greenland, but also the wider Arctic” already during his first term.
“And then, when he came back to office, he said again: ‘hey, it’s still not resolved,’” added Rutte.
“And he’s right.”
Asked by Sky whether the furore over Trump’s Greenland comments was a distraction for NATO allies, Rutte disagreed, even crediting Trump with “saving NATO.”
“I think he is right to start that debate,” Rutte said.
“How can we protect the Arctic? How can we make sure the Arctic is safe? And I would say that after saving NATO, he’s now the one leading the effort to make sure that we collectively save the Arctic region.”
(Vijesti.ba)
