On Monday, NATO’s Secretary Mark Rutte announced in Berlin that the alliance will remain united no matter who wins the upcoming US election. He stated, “Whoever wins, we will work with either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump to ensure NATO stays strong,” while speaking alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Rutte expressed confidence that the new president would continue supporting NATO because it is important for the United States. Allies are worried about possible challenges for the alliance if Trump becomes president again, as his previous term from 2017 to 2021 was marked by criticism of other nations for not spending enough on defense.

In February, Trump suggested he might let Russia act freely towards NATO allies who don’t contribute more. On the other hand, Harris has highlighted Trump’s comments, promising to collaborate with allies and uphold NATO commitments, just like President Joe Biden did.

There are also concerns that if Trump returns to office, it could mean less military support for Ukraine, which has relied heavily on the US as NATO’s largest supporter. Rutte pointed out that reports of North Korean troops in Russia make it even more urgent for NATO to enhance their security efforts in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently sought NATO membership as part of his “Victory Plan.” Rutte mentioned that the security agreements signed between Ukraine and several countries are a step towards NATO membership in the future, affirming, “I truly believe that one day Ukraine will join NATO.”