NATO will stay strong after French vote, Rutte says

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday that the alliance would remain “strong” whoever wins France's presidential election next year.

“The elections in France will be in May next year, and again, whatever the outcome, NATO is there, will stay together, will stay strong,” Rutte told a meeting of German diplomats in Berlin.

Rutte said he had “every confidence” that whoever wins elections in NATO member states would continue on the “key elements” of defence investment and making sure Ukraine does not lose the war.

Polls cited in the supplied material indicate far-right leader Marine Le Pen has her best chance of winning the French presidency. Le Pen has questioned France's role in NATO and support for Ukraine.

Rutte also said the alliance should not be “naive” about Russia in response to calls to reach an accommodation with President Vladimir Putin. “This is long-term. It is a threat,” he said.

His comments also came after the far-right AfD won a large victory in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Rutte said it was not his role to comment on national politics and that NATO would work with whoever is elected to lead its 32 member states.