NATO’s Mark Rutte says Europe cannot defend itself without the US, dismissing calls for strategic autonomy and warning of massive cost increases.
BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has bluntly dismissed calls for European strategic autonomy, stating the continent cannot defend itself without the United States.
Rutte told European Parliament lawmakers that those believing the EU could stand alone militarily should “keep on dreaming”.
He argued European nations would need to double defence spending to 10% of GDP and invest “billions and billions” in nuclear weapons to replace the US security umbrella.
“You would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella,” the former Dutch prime minister said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot countered Rutte’s assessment on social media platform X, stating “Europeans can and must take responsibility for their own security”.
Rutte insisted the US commitment to NATO’s Article Five mutual defence clause remains “total” but expects continued increases in European military spending.
The NATO chief reiterated his praise for former US President Donald Trump’s pressure on allies to boost defence budgets.
He also criticised a recent EU proposal for a European defence force to potentially replace US troops on the continent.
“It will make things more complicated. I think (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will love it,” Rutte warned.
Regarding recent tensions over Greenland, Rutte said he and Trump agreed NATO would take more responsibility for Arctic defence.
He clarified that negotiations over any US presence on the autonomous Danish territory are solely for Greenlandic and Danish authorities.
Rutte reaffirmed he highlighted allied sacrifices in Afghanistan during discussions with Trump, noting one allied soldier died for every two American fatalities.
“I know that America greatly appreciates all the efforts,” he told lawmakers.
