Rutte defends NATO's role Cosgrove presses him on wars

Jun 24

In the published White House departure recording, ZeroHedge correspondent Liam Cosgrove asks NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte whether the 'regime change wars' in Libya and Iraq were defensive. Rutte says NATO exists to protect one billion people from California to Turkey, calls it the strongest defensive alliance in history and says democratic allies have debates. Cosgrove repeats his question about the wars. Rutte says he will not comment on everything and insists NATO is there to defend. Cosgrove then asks the basis for calling it defensive; Rutte replies that an attack on NATO by Russia or anyone else would bring a devastating response. Cosgrove's framing of the historical wars and Rutte's claims and conditional warning remain attributed.

Outside the White House after his June 24, 2026 meeting with Donald Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte answers ZeroHedge correspondent Liam Cosgrove's challenge to NATO's defensive character. Cosgrove asks whether the wars he describes as regime change in Libya and Iraq were defensive. Rutte says NATO protects one billion people from California to Turkey, calls it the strongest defensive alliance in history and notes debates among democratic allies. Pressed again about the wars, he says he will not comment on everything and reiterates the alliance's defensive purpose. After Cosgrove asks the basis for that description, Rutte says an attack by Russia or anyone else would draw a devastating response. The historical-war characterization belongs to Cosgrove's questions; Rutte's final response is conditional.