NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has delivered a message to European leaders. He warned that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States.
The blunt remarks were made in Brussels and caught many lawmakers off guard. Speaking to committees of the European Parliament on Monday, Rutte dismissed ideas of European military independence.
Moreover, they followed growing debates about Europe’s long-term security future.
“If anyone thinks here again that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. You can’t. We can’t. We need each other,” Rutte said.
The statement was met with visible unease in the room. Therefore, his warning quickly dominated political discussions.
Rutte explained that going solo would come at a huge price. He said defence spending would need to rise sharply. According to him, Europe would have to spend up to 10 percent of its economy on defence.
In addition, he warned about nuclear security. Rutte said Europe would need to build its own nuclear shield. That process, he noted, would cost billions of euros.
“In that scenario, you will lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella. So hey, good luck,” he said. The comment was unusually direct for a NATO leader.
However, it reflected deep concern about current security debates. The idea of Europe defence without US support has gained attention in recent years.
Some leaders argue Europe should rely less on Washington.
Meanwhile, Rutte’s comments followed a turbulent week for Europe. US President Donald Trump renewed calls for American ownership of Greenland.
Trump later ruled out using force to annex the Arctic island. He made that clarification during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Nevertheless, the issue kept tensions high.
Rutte, however, praised Trump for spotlighting Arctic security. He admitted the comments might irritate European lawmakers. Furthermore, he stressed that the Arctic is becoming strategically important.
