Lithuania supports Rutte's intentions to lead NATO

Lithuania supports the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the post of NATO Secretary General.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said this at a joint press conference with Rutte in Vilnius, LRT reports.

According to Nausėda, Lithuania supports Rutte's candidacy for several reasons.

"I have known Mr. Markus for many years, he was one of those politicians who realized the Russian threat quite early, adapted, and changed his attitude towards Russia very significantly. And he is particularly attentive and understanding of the threats to NATO's eastern flank," the Lithuanian president stressed.

According to him, Lithuania hopes that Rutte will call on and continue to put pressure on other NATO countries to reach the 2% of GDP threshold for defense spending as soon as possible, as "2% is too little and not enough in the current circumstances, even as a minimum threshold".

Author - Olena Madiak, 02/04/2024