In difficult times, when European peoples need to be united more than ever, along comes Rutte, creating unnecessary divisions and even spreading misinformation.
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-favor-defense-ukraine-diplomacy-poll/
The NATO Secretary General clarified that statements regarding the perceived distance of the war in Ukraine referred to the views held by European populations, not the positions of their governments. Mark Rutte asserts that Portugal and Spain are fulfilling their necessary defense obligations.
The NATO Secretary General stated this Thursday that he was referring to the general public, rather than politicians, when he remarked that some people in Portugal and Spain consider the war in Ukraine to be distant.
Speaking to journalists upon his arrival at the European Political Community summit in Dublin, Mark Rutte stated that he has “no criticism whatsoever of Portugal or Spain,” noting that both countries are doing “exactly what is required: increasing defense spending and strengthening the production capacity of the defense industry.”
The secretary-general insisted that this perception “is not limited to Portugal and Spain,” but rather “is something that is happening throughout Europe.”
When asked whether he intends to meet with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on the sidelines of this summit to explain his position, Mark Rutte replied: “I don’t think I have anything else to explain.”
On Tuesday, in an interview with a Dutch television station, the NATO Secretary General accused Spain and Portugal of claiming that the conflict in Ukraine “is far away.”
These statements were criticised by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expressed regret that Mark Rutte would “speak so lightly” about the matter.
Mark Rutte “has an obligation to know which countries and governments stand firmly with Ukraine and are well aware of the Russian threat,” wrote the ministry led by Paulo Rangel on the social network X.
False!
Another source regarding the popularity of supporting Ukraine among the Portuguese population: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3613
Yes, wealthier and geographically closer countries tend to provide more help. But in this new statement, Mark Rutte clarifies that his criticism was not actually directed at the governments of Portugal and Spain, but rather at their populations, whom he accused of a perceived lack of care for Ukraine. His clarification ended up offending most of our population.