Outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot is positive about a special fund of 100 billion euros, intended for NATO support to Ukraine. “I am in favor of structural and sustainable support for Ukraine,” the minister said in conversation with Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries. The precise form of the fund is not yet clear. ‘There will be many discussions about this in the coming months.’
The Netherlands positive about NATO fund
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NATO wants to become less dependent on voluntary contributions from countries and focus more on long-term support for Ukraine. NATO also wants to take more control over military support to Ukraine, said outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. A good plan, thinks Bruins Slot.
Also read | NATO wants to support Ukraine more: ‘Less dependent on voluntary contributions’
‘The most important thing is that NATO looks at how we can continue to support Ukraine in the long term and sustainably. That is about coordination of military and financial support.’ The minister emphasizes that the fund is one of the first proposals that is now being discussed. ‘There is still quite a bit of water that will flow through the Rhine before we can make a concrete proposal.’ She does not want to confirm the amount of 100 billion euros. “We’re not there yet.”
‘There is still some water that will flow through the Rhine before we can make a concrete proposal’
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs are in Brussels, partly in honor of the 75th anniversary of the alliance. There is no festive atmosphere, ‘with a large-scale war on the European continent, we can only be grateful that we have a defensive alliance.’
Also read | Ukraine needs more help from NATO, ‘situation is becoming more dire’
Biden or Trump
The summit mainly emphasizes that stability within the alliance is necessary. There is no talk of instability yet, but people are looking askance at the United States, where presidential elections will be held in November. According to Bruins Slot, whether Joe Biden can remain in the White House or Donald Trump can return only confirms that cooperation is essential. “Whether it’s Biden or Trump, we will have to work well together. America is an important country, but there is a concrete task. We have to hold our own pants up more.’
The succession of the current Secretary General is also being discussed in Brussels. According to Bruins Slot, several countries have once again expressed support for Mark Rutte, but there is no ‘white smoke’ yet. ‘I see an excellent secretary general in Mark Rutte, there is increasing support.’ Nevertheless, no decision will be made in the coming days.
