(3 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels, Belgium – 3 April 2025
1. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen walking towards journalists
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elina Valtonen, Finnish Foreign Minister:
"Of course we trust the United States, no question about that. But at the same time, it’s now very much time also for Europe to take care of its own homework. And we are on the right track here. We are ramping up our defence, our deterrence, our defence industry, and at the same time, we are also aiding Ukraine. And this is so important not just for Europe, but essentially for the prevalence of the free world."
3. Valtonen walking away
4. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard walking towards journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Malmer Stenergard, Swedish Foreign Minister:
"Yes, the US is a very reliable partner. I have a very good discussion with my colleague Marco Rubio, and he very much appreciates what Sweden is doing on defence spending and of course, expects Europe to do more. And I think that is the only way to act at this moment. But they have been very clear to that commitment to NATO and also Article 5."
6. Wide of flags in arrivals area
STORYLINE:
Finland and Sweden’s foreign ministers each expressed their trust in the United States on Thursday amid the Trump administration’s shifts on economic and foreign policy.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard each spoke as they arrived for a meeting with their NATO counterparts.
The talks in Brussels come amid persistent signals from Washington that NATO as it has existed for 75 years may no longer be relevant.
"Of course we trust the United States, no question about that," Valtonen said.
Stenergard said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had made clear their commitment to NATO and to Article 5.
Despite those words, European allies and Canada are deeply concerned by Trump’s readiness to draw closer to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who sees NATO as a threat as the US tries to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, his rhetorical attacks and insults against on allies like Canada and Denmark.
And Trump’s Wednesday imposition of new global tariffs, which will affect allies, have added to the uncertainty and unease.
AP video shot by Ahmad Seir
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/aa26d0a5495941f1b385f3f0632a586f
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in April 8, 2025, 12:05 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
