NATO chief calls for stronger Europe, Canada within alliance

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday renewed his call for a stronger European and Canadian role within the alliance, emphasizing the need for a more equitable distribution of defense responsibilities during a joint news briefing with US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.

'NATO 3.0' vision

Rutte pointed to the concept of "NATO 3.0" as he urged allies to step up their contributions, calling for a stronger Europe and Canada "in a stronger NATO." "We discussed the absolute need for Europe to step up and Canada to step up in NATO and to have a more honest and a more equitable sharing of what we are doing within NATO with the United States," Rutte said.

US commitment to alliance

Colby highlighted progress in European defense capabilities, noting that Washington and Brussels are engaging in substantive discussions about the continent's security future. "We're actually having a kind of down-to-business conversation about how we go forward together in a world in which Europe ... can and is taking primary responsibility for its own conventional defense," he said, adding that Europe remains "a critical interest of the United States." "The spirit that we come in is obviously one, of consultation, of engagement," Colby added.