NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Iran’s nuclear capabilities represent a “direct threat” not only to the Middle East but also to Europe, calling on European countries to strengthen their capabilities so they can eventually address threats in their own neighborhood, including the Houthis in the Red Sea, rather than relying entirely on the United States.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking to Euronews on the sidelines of the Defence and Space Summit in Brussels, Rutte said the United States had been the only country capable of targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities, describing efforts to weaken those capabilities as “crucial.”
He said Europe had been unable to target Iran’s nuclear capabilities because it lacked the necessary capabilities, adding: “In 10 years, we can and should be able to do that.” He stressed that Europe should ultimately be capable of carrying out such actions itself rather than relying on the United States.
Rutte also said Europeans should take responsibility for dealing with the Houthis in the Red Sea instead of the United States. At the same time, he acknowledged that wars have negative consequences, while describing US action against Iran as “absolutely necessary.”
Speaking about the European position, Rutte said European countries agree on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. He noted the growing involvement of European countries in the region, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, in mine-clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside other European countries operating less publicly.
He said Europe had already begun increasing its role in the Strait of Hormuz and had allowed the United States to use European infrastructure and facilities to support Operation Epic Fury, noting that 5,000 US aircraft had taken off from European bases since the end of February in support of the operation.
Rutte stressed that the efforts were being carried out among allied countries and not as part of a NATO operation, explaining that Iran lies outside NATO territory and that the alliance is not involved in the operation.
He said increased European defence investment would eventually lead to “a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO,” enabling Europeans to address challenges in their neighborhood themselves and assume greater responsibility for their own security.
