NATO chief urges Europe to 'stop worrying so much' about US support
Photo: Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
The United States remains committed to collective defense within NATO, and Europe should worry less about it, says NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Rutte noted that European allies have long been overly concerned about whether the US would appoint a new Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR). According to him, he has always maintained that these concerns were unnecessary, and the appointment of Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkevich proves that.
The NATO chief confirmed that the SACEUR has been appointed - and once again, it's an American.
"So my message to my European colleagues is: stop worrying so much. Start to make sure that you get investment plans done, that you get the industrial base up and running, that the support for Ukraine remains at a high level," Rutte said.
He added that Europe "should work on and stop running around being worried about the US."
"They are there. They are with us," he concluded.
Commander appointment
In early June, US President Donald Trump appointed a new Supreme Allied Commander in Europe - Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkevich. The position, which oversees all NATO operations in Europe, has traditionally been held by an American general since it was established after World War II.
At the same time, the EU is working to deepen ties with non-NATO countries amid signals from Trump that the US might scale back its involvement in Europe’s security framework.
As a reminder, the NATO summit will take place on June 24–25 in The Hague, Netherlands.
