Brussels, Nov 13 (EFE).- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the deployment of North Korean troops by Russia in its war against Ukraine demanded a “firm response.”
Blinken made the remarks in Brussels following his meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte, amid the transition to President-elect Donald Trump’s administration in the US.
“We had a very productive discussion today about our ongoing support for Ukraine in the face of the ongoing Russian aggression as well this added element now of DPRK North Korean forces injected into the battle and now quite literally in combat, which demands, and will get, a firm response,” Blinken said.
He underscored the increasing interconnection between global security regions, including the Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, and Middle East, underscoring the need for stronger partnerships.
“We see increasingly the indivisibility of security between and among these theaters…and it is critical that we work closely together.”
He pointied to NATO’s recent efforts to strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific allies, a trend that he expects will continue in the months ahead.
Rutte echoed Blinken’s concerns, highlighting that the growing threat from North Korea in Ukraine has global ramifications.
In his address, Blinken also highlighted the importance of NATO allies investing in defense, with 23 out of 32 members now reaching the 2 percent GDP target.
However, he stressed the need to focus spending “where it is most critical,” citing growing challenges that span multiple regions.
US President Joe Biden remains committed to fortifying NATO and ensuring Ukraine’s resilience against Russian aggression, Blinken said, reaffirming that American support for Kyiv remains unwavering.
“President Biden fully intends to drive through the tape and use every day to continue to do what we have done these last four years, which is strengthen this alliance,” Blinken said.
Rutte acknowledged that, with the US backing, Ukraine “has prevailed and Russia has not won.”
He said the alliance needed “to do more to make sure that Ukraine can stay in the fight and is able to roll back as much as possible the Russian onslaught and prevent (President Vladimir) Putin from being successful in Ukraine.”
The NATO chief also expressed concern over North Korean troops engaging in combat in Ukraine, which he described as an “extra threat” for Kyiv and a significant escalation that bolsters Putin’s ability to inflict damage.
However, he added that Putin “has to pay for this.”
“He (Putin) is paying for this by technology, for example, missile technology going to North Korea and that is presenting a threat not only to European sides of NATO but also to the US mainlands, to South Korea, Japan,” Rutte noted.
Rutte also accused China of aiding Russia by supplying dual-use goods, and Iran for providing drones and other supplies that Moscow is “paying in money,” enabling Tehran to further destabilize the Middle East.
He said such combined threats mean “that we have to stay the course, that we have to ramp up defense production on the US side and Europe, that we have to do more in terms of spending to make sure Ukraine prevails.” EFE
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