Rutte says NATO must strengthen ties with partners outside alliance

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that, due to the cooperation between Russia and China, the alliance must strengthen its relations with partners outside NATO, according to ria.ru.

“NATO is a transatlantic alliance, but given Russia’s cooperation with China, North Korea, and Iran, we must ensure strong relations with partners beyond NATO territory,” Rutte said at a press conference in Brussels.

He named South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan as countries with which NATO should further deepen cooperation.