European allies are increasingly worried about the U.S. commitment to NATO.

By Wojciech Kość and Ketrin Jochecová

WARSAW — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday stressed that the transatlantic military alliance would respond to an attack with “full force.”

“When it comes to the defense of Poland and the general defense of NATO territory, if anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance,” Rutte said at a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a visit to Warsaw.

“Our reaction will be devastating. This must be clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us,” Rutte added, praising Poland for spending 4.7 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, the highest level in the alliance.

“Let’s not forget that Russia is and remains the most significant and dark threat to our alliance. Let’s not forget that Russia is moving to a wartime economy,” Rutte said.

Tusk underlined the importance of NATO to his country’s security. “It’s very important for us [to hear] the commitment that NATO will defend Poland in any critical situation,” he said, referring to the alliance’s common defense Article 5.

The reassurances come as there is growing worry within the alliance about United States President Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO and the disdain expressed by him and his top officials about Europe.

However, Rutte insisted that the transatlantic relationship between the U.S. and Europe is “the pillar of our alliance and that’s not changing.”

Poland has also built its security on its close relationship with the U.S. and has been careful not to cross Trump.

However, there is concern about the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia led by the U.S. administration, which Tusk admitted “we can only influence to a limited extent, to put it mildly.”

“We, as Poland and NATO, must be ready for scenarios we don’t really write,” he said.

Poland has been a key ally of Ukraine and sees that country’s continued survival as crucial to its national security.

“No one wants peace more than we do but only a just peace will give us all a sense of security. It’s a condition for the security of Poland, Europe, and NATO,” Tusk said.

Poland is also beefing up its own defenses, spending €2.3 billion on the East Shield initiative, a series of fortifications on its borders with Russia and Belarus — a project that has been backed by the European Union.

“Poland is taking full responsibility for securing its eastern border, which is the border of the EU as well,” the Polish prime minister said.

Tusk and Rutte are both due to head to Paris where French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting European leaders for another Ukraine summit on Thursday.

Source: Politico.eu