NATO Chief: Europe’s Defense Relies on U.S. Support

Brussels: NATO's Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Monday that Europe’s defense is heavily dependent on U.S. military resources. He emphasized that European nations must significantly enhance their defense budgets to be self-sufficient.

“Those who believe Europe can defend itself without U.S. support are mistaken. It’s simply not feasible,” Rutte remarked to EU legislators in Brussels. He underscored the mutual dependence of Europe and the U.S.

Rutte’s remarks arise during a period of escalating tensions within NATO, particularly due to former U.S. President Donald Trump's comments regarding Greenland, a territory associated with Denmark. While Trump had floated the idea of imposing new tariffs on European allies of Greenland, he later rescinded the proposal following an agreement reached with Rutte’s assistance. However, specifics of that understanding remain unclear.

The NATO alliance, comprising 32 member states, operates under Article 5 of its foundational treaty, which binds nations to protect any ally that comes under attack.

During NATO’s summit in The Hague last July, all European members, save for Spain, reaffirmed their commitment to meeting President Trump’s expectations for defense spending parity with the U.S. They collectively promised to allocate 3.5% of GDP for primary defense and another 1.5% for security enhancements by 2035—totaling 5% of GDP.

Rutte insisted, “If you aspire for independence, you’ll need to aim for 10% and establish your own nuclear arsenal, which involves significant expenses.”

France has been advocating for Europe’s “strategic autonomy,” gaining traction following the Trump administration’s insistence that Europe assume greater responsibility for its security.

Rutte concluded that without U.S. backing, Europe would forego “the ultimate safeguard of our liberty, the U.S. nuclear deterrent. So, good luck with that!”