Of course they don’t, NATO is a defence agreement, not an economical one.
Rutte was responding to a reporter’s question that referred to article 2 in the NATO treaty which states: “(NATO allies) will seek to eliminate conflict in their international economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between any or all of them.”
That does sound as if there actually is a provision against randomly starting unwarranted trade wars between members. And I could imagine that if it was another country lashing out like this, they’d get a stern warning. But the country lashing out is the most important one in NATO, the founding member.
Even as everyone is trying to emancipate from the US right now, Rutte behaved in an extremely friendly and appeasing way toward Rubio this week. Apparently the idea is to keep on the US’s good side for as long as necessary and possible.
That sounds like an aspirational goal, not an enforceable rule.
By that criteria so is article 5, as it only calls for “such action as it deems necessary”.
Rutte is a right twat. We had to deal with him for a long time as minister president
Rutte is like a chameleon, ask any one from the Netherlands.
Did someone tell Rutte yet that not everyone in orange paint is acting pro-Netherlands?
Teflon Mark
Can’t say I’m surprised. Rutte was always a rat.
I mean… no shit.
