The Guardian ·
Nato leader warns of ‘most dangerous and complex security environment in a generation’
Mark Rutte asks UK and Europe to ‘provide hard power Nato needs’ in face of geopolitical uncertainty
Nato needs “more UK and more Europe” to deal with the most dangerous security environment faced by the west in a generation, the secretary general of the 32-country military alliance said this afternoon on a visit to the UK.
Mark Rutte praised Britain for promising to increase defence spending in line with US demands after a meeting prime minister Andy Burnham – but argued that the military and financial effort must continue into the future.
“It is essential that your armed forces continue to provide the hard power Nato needs,” Rutte said in a speech to a specialist audience at Ditchley Park, a wartime retreat used by Winston Churchill in Oxfordshire.
