It’s clear from what their new secretary-general has to say that NATO believes Donald Trump will be the next American president. Mark Rutte was hand selected to stand up to Trump. In his first speech as head of the alliance, he admitted that the once and future president was right. The EU is stingy. He admits that he too, as premier of the Netherlands, was reluctant to spend the money they promised, for their share of common defense. It may be the only time the two men ever agree but Rutte is obviously extending Trump an olive branch.
NATO sounds nervous
On Tuesday, October 1, NATO got a new secretary-general. In “a highly choreographed ceremony,” Jens Stoltenberg handed Mark Rutte the “Icelandic wooden gavel” they use for special occasions.
It’s a solid and flamboyantly shaped mallet even Thor would be proud to throw around. Ambassadors from all 32 member nations were on hand for the festivities.
Once the formal exchange of power was complete, Rutte bounced over to the press stage to vow continued support for Ukraine. Most of his speech was clearly intended for the ears of Donald Trump.
In his first official NATO speech, Rutte admitted Trump was right, “recognizing the contribution of controversial U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump in piling pressure on Europe’s loose defense spending and lax approach to China,” Politico writes.
While working hard to drive all the Dutch farmers into extinction, Rutte was one of the worst offenders when it came to stiffing NATO on dues payments.
“Rutte, known for his frugal mindset on EU spending, also admitted he didn’t set the best example when it came to defense spending in the Netherlands, which didn’t meet NATO’s target of two percent of GDP being spent on defense, a figure agreed a decade ago.” They hit the target for the first time this year.

Trump has a point
Most of the audience were shocked silent when Rutte added, “obviously you have a point here, that we should have done this earlier.” They thought they supported his nomination to get them out of paying their full share.
Now that he’s got the job he seems to have sold them out. Unless, it’s only some “confusion to the enemy.” NATO members are cautiously optimistic Rutte is really up to something but this appeasement tactic has them nervous.
Rutte certainly knows his way around Brussels. As Prime Minister of the Dutch Netherlands for 14 years he spent a lot of time there for “the endless amount of EU Council meetings” he’s attended.
While there on business he rubbed elbows with Klaus Schwab, George Soros and all the other World Economic Forum bigwigs working to make the New World Order a solid reality. He’ll use those connections to help NATO, he promises. “I’m good friends with all the senior leaders in EU, and I’m looking forward to working with them.”
His primary goal is sorting out what each country needs to provide on their own and what can be done by the alliance. “Nobody wants, let’s say, duplication of what NATO already is doing, so I think we can be on one page on this.” He’s also getting ready for Trump to move back into the White House.
“President Trump, thanks to him, we pushed up the defense spending, we sped up the defense spending since the summit here in 2018 particularly, but also what he said on China is now very much taken on board, I think, by many of us.” Joe and Kamala have us sitting on the brink of World War III. He couldn’t think of much to say about Kamala. Harris, on the other hand, “has a record as vice president and now as a candidate in defending American values.” She may be progressive but NATO knows if she gets in the whole world is doomed.