NATO Secretary-General Values the US Not to Walk Away from Allies Even Though It Withdraws Troops in Europe

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. (Twitter/@SecGenNATO)

JAKARTA - The Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Wednesday rejected the notion that the United States was distancing itself from the alliance after adjusting its contribution to the NATO power model, saying Washington remained fully committed to collective defense.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Rutte said recent changes in the US pledge should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from Europe.

"You may have seen news about the US adjusting its contribution to the NATO power model. In some cases, this is considered a problem - as the US moves away from its allies. But that's not the reality," he said, launching Anadolu (18/6).

"The US has made it clear that they are committed to NATO," Rutte said.

Rutte's secretary-general said Washington expects European and Canadian allies to take on a greater responsibility for conventional defense, while acknowledging that the US must also address security challenges in other regions.

"We see that European allies and Canada are ready, willing, and able to do more," he explained.

According to Secretary-General Rutte, the change concerns responsibilities under the NATO power model if the alliance's defense plan is activated, not the current deployment of US troops and assets.

Responding to a question from a reporter, he stressed the issue "is not about where troops and assets are currently located, but about who will do what if our defense plans are activated."

He said the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO in Europe (SACEUR) had assessed that many capabilities that the US would no longer promise were already available among European allies or would be available in the near future.

"As the United States adjusts its promised contribution, other allies have increased their contributions, in some cases completely, in some cases almost completely," Rutte explained.

However, he admitted that there were still some gaps in ability, adding "there are also areas that need more work, but the overall picture looks good."