NATO will 'stay united' whoever wins US elections: Rutte | National

Rutte said he had “no doubt” that the winner of the election would continue to support NATO because it was “in the interest of the United States.”

Western allies fear turbulent times for the defense alliance founded at the start of the Cold War if Trump wins the decisive election on Tuesday.

The alliance suffered a setback during Trump's 2017-2021 presidency, when he lambasted his allies over what he saw as inadequate spending.

Trump warned in February that he would encourage the Russians to do “whatever the hell they want” with NATO allies who no longer pay for common defense.

Harris, meanwhile, has frequently pointed to Trump's comments as she, like President Joe Biden, pledges to work with allies and stand with NATO.

Western allies also fear that a Trump presidency could mean a reduction in military aid to Ukraine by the United States, which has spearheaded NATO-wide support for Kiev and been its biggest supporter.

Rutte said reports of North Korean troops in Russia meant it was important to “do everything we can to protect not only the Euro-Atlantic region but also the Indo-Pacific region.”

“This motivates us to do more,” he said, calling Pyongyang’s support a “very serious development and escalation.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a request to join NATO as he recently presented his “victory plan” to Western allies.

Rutte said the bilateral security agreements signed between several countries and Ukraine were “a bridge to NATO membership in the longer term.”

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

fec/fz/gv