NATO Chief Warns Europe About Relying on Itself for Defense Without US Support

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has cautioned European countries that they are deluding themselves if they think they can secure their defense without the backing of the United States.

During a meeting with members of the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday, he stated, “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 highlighted that for Europe to genuinely establish an independent defense mechanism, countries would need to elevate their military expenditures to around 10 percent of their GDP. He further remarked that developing their own nuclear capabilities would require colossal financial investments amounting to 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 added.

These comments arose after a politically charged week for Europe and its allies, especially following US President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. He later reassured that he would not resort to military means for annexing the Arctic region during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Rutte also acknowledged the attention Trump brought to the subject of Arctic security, understanding that his remarks could provoke some discomfort among the European lawmakers present.

“I think he’s right. There is an issue with the Arctic region. There is an issue of collective security, because these sea lanes are opening up, and because the Chinese and the Russians are becoming increasingly active,” Rutte remarked.

Looking forward, the NATO chief outlined two initiatives regarding the Greenland matter. The first initiative focuses on ensuring NATO assumes a greater collective responsibility to safeguard the Arctic, which would involve curbing both military and economic engagements by Russia and China.

The second initiative will be to maintain ongoing trilateral discussions involving the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. Rutte clarified that he would not participate in these negotiations, highlighting that he lacks the authority to represent Denmark in those discussions.

Earlier this month, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeld met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, describing their discussions as “constructive,” while also acknowledging that a “fundamental disagreement” persists.

In the subsequent week, Rutte and Trump met in Davos, where the US President asserted they had achieved a framework regarding Greenland. Trump indicated his decision to refrain from imposing tariffs on European nations that opposed his plans to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Though the specifics of the framework and Rutte’s exact role remain vague, Trump's unexpected reversal has once again positioned the NATO Secretary General in a prominent spotlight.