Is Nato chief Mark Rutte following his daddy Trump on India?

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has drawn attention with his remarks that have been branded "factually incorrect and entirely baseless" by India. Is Rutte following his "daddy" Donald Trump in making baseless extravagant claims? The US President's claims on bringing about the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May had been rejected by the Indian government. Rutte is the chief of Nato, a military bloc that has the US as its key member and has been facing pressure from Trump.

Rutte suggested that US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases had a "big impact" on Moscow. He also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to "explain his strategy" on Ukraine following Trump's tariffs—which the Indian government denied.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed Rutte's remarks as "factually incorrect and entirely baseless". The incident has not only strained perceptions but also sparked questions about Rutte's motivations, particularly in light of his earlier reference to Trump as "daddy", which some interpret as a sign of undue deference to the US leader.

In late 2023, Rutte began campaigning for the role of Nato Secretary General, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, 2024.

As Nato's chief, his primary mandate is to oversee the alliance's collective defence, promote transatlantic security, and coordinate responses to global threats like Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Born on Valentine's Day in 1967, Mark Rutte seemingly carries 'love' in his stars—and lately, he has been showering it on the US and Donald Trump.

MARK RUTTE AND HIS DADDY TRUMP

The "daddy" moniker stems from a light-hearted yet headline-grabbing moment during a Nato summit in June 2025.

While discussing Trump's handling of the Israel-Iran conflict, Rutte used an analogy of two children fighting, stating, "And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language". This reference to Trump as "daddy" surprised reporters and quickly went viral, with Rutte later clarifying it was metaphorical.

However, in the context of Rutte's recent comments on India, critics argued it underscores his subservience to Trump, especially as the US leader has been vocal about India.

Donald Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims about brokering an India-Pakistan ceasefire, including assertions of preventing a nuclear war and taking credit for a May truce, despite India's denials of US involvement. He also boasts of ending "seven unendable wars" in pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize, which are all misleading.

Rutte appears to be treading in Trump's footsteps, backing US tariffs and warning of sanctions on India over Russian oil imports, seemingly to align with the president he calls "daddy".

RUTTE'S ABSURD COMMENTS ON US-INDIA MATTERS

Rutte's comments about Modi's call to Putin appear to align with Trump's narrative of influencing global leaders, prompting speculation that the Nato chief is "following his daddy" on matters involving India.

It is absurd for Rutte to weigh in on US-India relations in such a manner. Nato, founded in 1949, is a military alliance of 32 member states, including the United States, focused on collective defence under Article 5, which treats an attack on one as an attack on all.

While the US is Nato's largest contributor and de facto leader, providing over 70% of the alliance's defence spending, the Secretary General's role is to facilitate consensus, not to opine on bilateral diplomatic exchanges outside Nato's purview.

India is not a Nato member; it maintains strategic partnerships with both the US and Russia, balancing relations amid global tensions like the Ukraine war.

Rutte's comments, which inaccurately brought in Modi in a sensitive geopolitical dialogue, overstep the bounds of his position.

Nato's mandate does not extend to arbitrating US trade policies or India's foreign engagements. By fabricating details—whether carelessly or speculatively—Rutte only risked undermining the alliance's credibility, especially when the US is just one part of a multilateral body.

Trump has been asking Nato countries to increase their defence expenditure and rely less on the US. He had disregarded Nato until his recent nod that its member countries could shoot down Russian jets and drones.

With pressure on Nato from Trump, there's a big question. Is Rutte trying to imitate Trump by making baseless statements in a bid to curry favour with his daddy?

- Ends