Let’s see how Korea does it

Concerns about sabotage and hybrid attacks in, for example, the Baltic Sea are discussed when the foreign ministers of the NATO countries meet in Brussels.

Most cautious words are heard about the situation in South Korea.

Secretary General Mark Rutte promises that NATO is “very interested” in the development of events in Seoul and that it is being followed closely. But that for the time being they are waiting.

– They are not part of NATO, but they are very important friends of ours. We follow step by step what is happening. But right now I don’t want to comment. Let’s first see how the Koreans manage to handle this situation and, if necessary, there will be more comments later, says Rutte on his way into today’s closing part of the meeting in Brussels.

Sabotage

It mainly deals with cyber and hybrid attacks and concerns about sabotage in NATO countries – for example against cables of various kinds in the Baltic Sea.

However, no direct new decisions are expected to be made public.

– We are constantly looking at things we can do, both on our own but also together, to face an increasing hybrid threat not least against the Baltic Sea region, said Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) on her way into the meeting yesterday.

Increased budget?

The NATO countries have also spoken in Brussels about the support for Ukraine and the pressure that is now increasing that the countries should raise their target of spending at least the equivalent of two percent of GDP on defence. Figures of 2.5 or even 3 percent are mentioned ahead of NATO’s next summit, in The Hague in the Netherlands this summer.

– We stand behind the fact that the European NATO members, but also Canada, must invest more in their defence. It is quite obvious that we will have to sharpen our ambitions. Then we’ll get back to exactly where it lands, Malmer Stenergard said yesterday.