Rutte says 10 non-NATO countries to join alliance summit in Ankara

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said 10 non-member countries will join the alliance’s 32 member states at next month’s NATO summit in Ankara, underscoring what he described as a broad coalition backing U.S. President Donald Trump’s leadership.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Rutte said the July 7-8 summit in the Turkish capital would bring together a total of 42 countries.

“We will have in two weeks a summit in Ankara with 32 allies, plus 10 other nations. So in total 42 nations representing a combined economy of 70 trillion, that’s two and a half the size of the American economy being led by this president [Trump - ed.],” he said.

Rutte framed the gathering as a demonstration of Western unity against a group of rival powers.

“And again when we come to Ankara, even ten more countries visiting. And this is the coalition he is leading, of 42 nations against four others: China, North Korea, Iran, Russia. Working together, facing this massive counterbalance of these 42 countries led by Donald J Trump,” Rutte said.

By Sabina Mammadli