On 26 March 2025, SGH authorities and students met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the former prime minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024. “This is not the time to go it alone. Not for Europe or North America” – Mark Rutte said during his lecture. “When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to NATO. (...) And nothing can replace America’s nuclear umbrella, the ultimate guarantor of our security. A strong transatlantic Alliance remains the bedrock of our defence,” NATO’s head assured.
“Today, the NATO Secretary General is visiting the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. This is a great honour for me, and an extraordinary distinction for our School on the eve of the 120th anniversary of its foundation, which we will be celebrating in 2026. It is a great commendation and proof of the important role of the SGH in the socio-economic life of Poland. I would like to welcome the Secretary General on my own behalf and on behalf of the Director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, Professor Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz," said SGH Rector Piotr Wachowiak in the main auditorium, welcoming the guest and attendees.
“On 12 March 1999, Poland became a member of NATO. I remember the enthusiasm this generated at the SGH. Thanks to the group of reformers working under the direction of Prof. Leszek Balcerowicz, our school was directly involved in the process of political and economic transformation in Poland.
Our intention was to have a healthy market economy and join the European Union. We were well aware that this was only possible if we became a part of the strengthening of transatlantic ties and regional security.
PHOTO: Piotr Potapowicz, SGH
NATO was Poland's road to Europe, whose values are symbolised by your great countryman Erasmus of Rotterdam and his friend Jan Łaski. We knew that Article 5 was important, but it was only in 2022 that we fully understood how much.
Russia's direct attack on Ukraine in 2022 radically changed the security situation in our region. In 2016, at a summit in Warsaw, NATO members decided to establish the Enhanced Forward Presence on NATO's eastern flank. The importance of the eastern flank has been growing since then.
Thank you, Mr Secretary General, on my behalf and on behalf of the co-organiser of today's event, the Polish Institute of International Affairs, for taking the time to meet with our communities to deliver the lecture “Stronger NATO, Commitment to Euro-Atlantic Security”.
Mr Secretary General, your presence here is an unprecedented event for our university, and it fills us with joy. I wish to once again thank you for visiting our Alma Mater.“
The NATO Secretary General first met with the Rector and Chancellor authorities, and placed his signature in the commemorative book at the SGH Rector's office. Among those welcoming the Secretary General to the SGH was Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, who had a brief conversation with Mark Rutte.
On the photo from the left: Vice Rector for Development dr hab. Dorota Niedziółka, dr hab. Leszek Balcerowicz, dr hab. Katarzyna Pisarska, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, SGH Rector dr hab. Piotr Wachowiak, Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski. PHOTO: Piotr Potapowicz, SGH
On the photo from the left: Leszek Balcerowicz, Dorota Niedziółka, Piotr Wachowiak, Rafał Trzaskowski, dyrektor PISM dr hab. Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz, Katarzyna Pisarska. PHOTO: Piotr Potapowicz, SGH
Afterwards, in the main auditorium, the NATO Secretary General delivered the lecture “Stronger NATO, Commitment to Euro-Atlantic Security”.
“In my first speech as Secretary General in December, I said I wanted to start a conversation with the one billion people living in NATO countries about our security. And what better place to continue that conversation than here in Poland? You are truly a leader on defence, spending 4.7 percent of GDP this year. You are a strong supporter for Ukraine. And Poland has put security at the heart of your EU Presidency. In my meetings earlier today, I thanked President (Andrzej) Duda and Prime Minister (Donald) Tusk not just for talking the talk, but for walking the walk, when it comes to our collective security,” said Mark Rutte.
The lecture addressed the strength of the transatlantic bond. NATO’s head sketched out the path to the NATO summit in the Hague in June this year following the recent discussions in Washington with US President Donald Trump.
Mark Rutte stressed that ensuring a lasting peace for Ukraine is essential for European security and global stability. “The world is watching. I welcome that President Trump has broken the deadlock with Russia. And that talks are ongoing towards a ceasefire. I also welcome that the UK and France are leading efforts to contribute to a lasting peace, which we will again discuss tomorrow in Paris. At the same time, I know there are questions about the strength of the transatlantic bond and United States’ commitment to European security,” added NATO Secretary General.
PHOTO: Piotr Potapowicz, SGH
He also pointed out that there are difficult debates between Europe and America over trade and tariffs.
“And there are calls to revive ideas of European autonomy. Let me be absolutely clear, this is not the time to go it alone. Not for Europe or North America,” he emphasised. “The global security challenges are too great for any of us to face on our own. When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to NATO. Without the US, UK, Canada, Norway, Iceland, and Türkiye it is impossible to imagine the defence of Europe. And nothing can replace America’s nuclear umbrella, the ultimate guarantor of our security. A strong transatlantic Alliance remains the bedrock of our defence.”
PHOTO: Piotr Potapowicz, SGH
Mark Rutte noted that US troops lead our NATO forces in Poland, indicating that American strategic bombers patrol European skies, and US aircraft carriers send a message of strength at sea.
“Yes, Europe needs to know that Uncle Sam still has our back. But America also needs to know that its NATO Allies will step up and play their full part. Without restrictions and without capability gaps. It’s only fair. (...) The US commitment to NATO comes with a clear expectation: that European Allies and Canada take more responsibility for our shared security. So, at our Summit in the Hague, we will begin a new chapter for our transatlantic Alliance, where we will build a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO to face a more dangerous world. A stronger NATO means investing and producing even more for our defence. A fairer NATO means all Allies doing their fair share,” indicated NATO’s head.
The lecture was followed by a Q&A session moderated by the Director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), Dr. hab. Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz, and Mark Rutte answered questions from students and experts.
PHOTO: Piotr Potapowicz, SGH
Further on the agenda was a press briefing for representatives of several editorial offices from Poland and abroad.
The SGH newspaper asked about the changes in the narrative of the new US administration regarding the war in Ukraine, and the administration's attitude towards Russia: “What is your opinion on it – is it a change of narrative, a negotiating game, or a radical change of reality in the area of international security? If it is the second option, how does NATO intend to address these new circumstances in the longer term?”
“Indeed, we are dealing with a new US administration. It has started a process that I personally fully support, which aims to bring about a long and lasting peace in Ukraine. Someone had to break the deadlock, and that was Donald Trump. As I said earlier, hundreds of thousands of people are being killed or seriously injured, cities are being destroyed. This is heartbreaking. All major global issues require American leadership to bring them to a successful resolution. And (the Americans) are doing a very hard job, as are the Europeans and NATO. This is something positive. Supporting Ukraine in the war (with Russia) was necessary. We continue to do so. Both European countries and the United States supply weapons to Ukraine. It is crucial for Ukrainians not to give up the fight. But we also want to end this war. And hopefully that will happen,” replied Mark Rutte.
PHOTO: Piotr Potapowicz, SGH
The event was organised in cooperation with the PISM.
Prior to his visit to the SGH, NATO’s head spoke with President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Mark Rutte took office as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s 14th Secretary General on 1 October 2024. As a former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte has a distinguished record of domestic and international achievements, including security, defence, employment and social affairs, and economics. He is a strong supporter of global and transatlantic cooperation.
Mark Rutte was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the Netherlands (2010-2024). During his tenure, he steered the Netherlands through times of significant national and global upheaval, including the economic crisis, the coronavirus pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. He is a committed European and transatlanticist, who was instrumental in bolstering his country’s role at the heart of NATO and the European Union, reads a biographical note on the NATO website. The shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) by pro-Russian forces over eastern Ukraine in 2014 marked a turning point in Mark Rutte's leadership. It reaffirmed his conviction that no country can respond to today's interconnected security threats alone: together we are stronger.
