“We had a very productive discussion today about our continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression; this item added now from North Korea, “The North Korean forces injected into the battle, and now literally in combat, demand and will receive a firm response,” said the United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenafter meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, the Dutch Mark Rutte.
The American Democratic politician stated that “we increasingly see the indivisibility of security between and within these different theaters: the Euro-Atlantic theater, the Indo-Pacific theater and the Middle East.”
Rutte expressed himself along these lines, warning that the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific “are not two separate theaters.” “All of this is coming together more and more, and what is happening in Ukraine has a global impact,” he emphasized.
Blinken, who today will participate in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council – NATO’s main decision-making body – at ambassadorial level, said it is “critical that we find ways to work increasingly closely together.”
He also considered that the allies must continue to strengthen their military industrial base and, although 23 of 32 allies have already reached the milestone of investing 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) in defense, he considered that it is necessary for the investments to go “to where it is necessary.”
The importance of US leadership
Blinken made it clear that US President Joe Biden “has the firm intention to move forward.” and take advantage of every day to continue doing what we have done during these last four years, which has strengthened this Alliance.”
“It is essential for the security of the United States and countries throughout Europe, and we will do it,” he stressed, while guaranteeing that they will continue their support for Ukraine “to ensure that it can defend itself effectively against Russian aggression.”
Mark Rutte stressed that, thanks to the leadership of the United States, “Ukraine has prevailed and Russia has not won”.
“Obviously, we have to do more to make sure that Ukraine can stay in the fight and is able to push back the Russian attack as much as possible and prevent (Russian President Vladimir) Putin from being successful in Ukraine.”
In the opinion of the Dutch politician, the fact that North Korean soldiers are “active in Ukraine” represents an “extra threat” to Kyiv that “will increase Putin’s potential to cause damage,” although it also entails “a cost” for him.
“(Putin) has to pay for it. And it is paying with technology, for example missile technology for North Korea, which represents a threat not only to the European side of NATO but also to United States, South Korea and Japan”, considered.
At the same time, he pointed out that China“through circumventing sanctions” against Russia by sending it dual-use goods (civil and military), is “helping the war effort” of the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, he noted that Iran is contributing to this by providing Russia drone technology and other supplies that Moscow “pays for with money” that, in turn, allows Tehran “to continue its efforts to destabilize the Middle East and beyond.”
“This means that we have to stay the course, increase defense production on the American side here in Europe, that we have to do more in terms of spending and do more to make sure that Ukraine can prevail,” he concluded.
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