Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of NATO, said on Thursday that he was referring to the public, not politicians. He had said some people in Portugal and Spain see the war in Ukraine as distant.
Rutte Defends Original Remarks at Dublin Summit
Rutte made the clarification to reporters as he arrived at the European Political Community summit in Dublin. He said he has no criticism to make of Portugal or Spain.
He said both countries are doing exactly what is needed. They are increasing defense spending and strengthening the production capacity of the defense industry.
What I have been saying is that, across Europe, and not only in Portugal or Spain, populations - not politicians, but people inside these countries - sometimes have the perception that there is a difference between the eastern countries, like Estonia and Poland, and the rest.
Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO
Reporters asked if he planned to meet Portugal's prime minister, Luís Montenegro, on the sidelines of the summit to explain his position. Rutte replied: "I don't think I have anything more to explain."
NATO Chief Points to Divide Between Estonia, Poland and Rest of Europe
Rutte insisted that the perception he described is not limited to Portugal and Spain, but happens across Europe as a whole.
He repeated a comparison from two days earlier, framing it as a matter of geography rather than commitment.
And the only thing I am saying is that the newest Russian missiles take only five minutes longer to reach Dublin, Amsterdam or Madrid, Italy or Rome, than Tallinn or Vilnius.
Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO
Original Tuesday Interview Cited Five-Minute Missile Gap to Lisbon
The row began on Tuesday, when Rutte gave an interview to a Dutch television station. In it, he accused Spain and Portugal of saying the war in Ukraine "is far away."
Sometimes I tell our allies in Spain or Portugal, who say: it is far away, and what happens in Russia mainly affects Poland.
Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO
He added that the newest Russian missiles take five minutes longer to reach Lisbon than they do Warsaw.
Portugal's Foreign Ministry Calls Remarks 'Lamentable'
Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Paulo Rangel, criticized the Tuesday remarks. It said it regretted that Rutte spoke with such carelessness on the matter.
The ministry wrote on the social media platform X. It said Rutte has a duty to know which countries and governments stand firmly beside Ukraine and understand the Russian threat well.
Portugal, its Government and its people have never had doubts about the right side of History. It is regrettable that the NATO secretary-general speaks with such carelessness about a matter of this seriousness.
Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Source: madeira.rtp.pt
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