Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to congratulate him on assuming his position at NATO. Secretary Blinken and Secretary General Rutte discussed the United States’ and NATO’s immediate and enduring support to Ukraine, including by operationalizing NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine to help Ukraine defend itself today and deter Russian aggression in the future. Advancing a plan for action reached at the Washington Summit, they discussed NATO’s deepening relationships with its partners, including in the Indo-Pacific and NATO’s Southern Neighborhood. Both sides underscored the importance of NATO’s indispensable transatlantic bond for our security.
