On Monday 26 January, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte took part in an exchange of views with Members of the European Parliament's Committees on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Foreign Affairs (AFET). The meeting was held in association with the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
Mr Rutte outlined efforts to provide military and humanitarian support to Ukraine, including through initiatives such as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). As discussions to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine continue, Mr Rutte also emphasised the significant impact of Russia's persistent attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in the midst of a harsh winter.
The Secretary General described how NATO Allies are responding to security challenges by ramping up defence investment, innovation and production. "It's fair and appropriate that Europe and Canada take more responsibility for their own security, and the good news is they do," he said. In this vein, he affirmed that "a more capable European defence is crucial," welcoming EU efforts to support the major increases in investment and industry needed. He emphasised that the work of NATO and the EU on defence must be complementary, recalling that the contributions and capabilities of NATO's non-EU Allies are indispensable for collective defence.
Mr Rutte went on to highlight the tremendous value of close cooperation between NATO and the EU, whether enhancing military mobility, boosting defence industry, or ensuring Ukraine has the support it needs to defend itself today and secure a prosperous future. "My argument will be, let's be practical, let's be realistic when it comes to our security. We need to leverage our respective strength…that's the only way to keep Europe safe," he concluded.
