Brussels, 26 January (LaPresse) – ‘The freedom and security of NATO's billion citizens depend on the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces, to whom we are deeply grateful. This point was also emphasised by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in his meeting with the Italian Minister of Defence over the weekend.’ This was stated to LaPresse by a NATO official. Rutte has expressed his gratitude in this regard on several occasions, it is pointed out, such as during his annual report in April and in Davos. Furthermore, during a hearing before the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE), Rutte reiterated that ‘for every two American soldiers who paid the ultimate price, one soldier from an allied or partner country did not return home,’ mentioning Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom.
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