NATO chief Rutte sparks debate: Can Europe defend itself without US?

By Ahmet Taş / Wise News Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has triggered a wide-ranging debate across Europe after dismissing claims that the continent could defend itself without the United States, calling such expectations unrealistic.

Rutte’s remarks, delivered during a question-and-answer session at the European Parliament, have intensified long-standing divisions within the European Union over strategic autonomy, defence spending and the future role of NATO.

The discussion comes amid growing uncertainty over Washington’s long-term commitment to European security and renewed calls for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence.

Rutte: Europe cannot defend itself alone

Speaking on 26 January at a joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee, Mark Rutte addressed lawmakers’ questions on transatlantic security.

“If someone here believes that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the United States, they should keep dreaming,” Rutte said. “You will not succeed.”

Rutte argued that even raising defence spending to 5 percent of GDP would not be sufficient for Europe to act independently. According to him, the figure would need to reach 10 percent, leading to massive duplication of capabilities, billions of euros in additional costs and the loss of the US nuclear umbrella.

While Rutte supports European allies taking on more responsibility for their own security, he has repeatedly stressed that this should be done within NATO, not through separate or parallel structures.

Strategic autonomy gains momentum in the EU

Within the European Union, a group of countries led by France has long advocated for strategic autonomy, including the idea of a European army capable of operating independently of the United States.

This position has gained traction following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and repeated statements by US President Donald Trump questioning America’s security commitments to Europe.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said Washington’s shifting focus away from Europe reflects a structural change rather than a temporary policy adjustment.

“Making NATO more European is essential,” Kallas said at a defence conference on 28 January, adding that “no great power has ever survived by outsourcing its defence.”

France leads early backlash

Rutte’s comments drew immediate reactions from France. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Europeans “can and must take responsibility for their own security,” noting that even the United States acknowledges this necessity.

“This is the European pillar of NATO,” Barrot said in a social media post.

Rutte, however, dismissed the phrase “European pillar” as “somewhat hollow.”

French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said the debate itself demonstrates “the necessity of NATO’s European dimension,” while French MEP Nathalie Oiseau accused Rutte of undermining Europe.

“This was a shameful moment,” Oiseau said. “NATO must rebalance the efforts between the United States and Europe.”

Diverging views among European leaders

The debate has also exposed differing views among European leaders. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, offered a sharply contrasting assessment.

“Can Europe defend itself?” Stubb asked. “My answer is clearly yes.”

The US National Defense Strategy published on 23 January appears to support this view, stating that Europe has the economic and military capacity to defend itself and is “well positioned to take primary responsibility for conventional defence.”

Think tanks have also weighed in. Gesine Weber, a senior researcher at ETH Zurich’s Center for Security Studies, said Europeans are not “dreaming” but are instead assessing how to turn necessity into reality amid declining US reliability.

Similarly, Max Bergmann of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Europe could deter Russia if it acts in a focused and determined manner.

Can Europe really defend itself without the US?

Despite growing support for greater autonomy, many experts argue that Europe remains heavily dependent on US military capabilities.

Without American support, the EU would need to maintain more than 100,000 troops on constant readiness for land defence alone, with far higher numbers required in the event of a major conflict.

US naval and missile defence assets also play a critical role in protecting Europe, particularly in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Analysts warn that deterrence would be difficult to sustain without US naval presence.

In the air domain, American support remains indispensable. Some European fighter jets would not be operational without US logistical and technical backing.

Satellite capabilities also reveal a stark imbalance: NATO’s European members operate around 50 military satellites, compared with roughly 250 controlled by the United States.

Areas where Europe holds an advantage

Europe does outperform the United States in certain defence manufacturing areas. EU countries have strong production capacity in warships, submarines, tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery systems and ammunition.

They also possess significant capabilities in short- and medium-range missiles, air defence systems, drones, radar, helicopters, transport aircraft and small arms.

However, dependence on the US remains high in stealth aircraft, long-range drones, long-range missiles, advanced air defence systems and satellite intelligence.

Turkey: NATO must remain central

Turkey continues to advocate a NATO-centric approach to European security. Ankara opposes the creation of parallel defence structures that could duplicate NATO’s role.

Turkish officials stress that any European defence initiative should complement NATO and remain open to non-EU NATO allies.

According to Turkey, the contributions of NATO members outside the EU are indispensable to collective defence, and excluding them would weaken Europe’s overall security architecture.

EU works on new security strategy

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has consistently called for reducing Europe’s strategic dependencies, including in defence.

Following an emergency summit in Brussels on 22 January, Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said the EU is determined to become “more resilient and more independent across multiple fronts.”

The European Commission is currently working on a comprehensive security strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities while redefining its relationship with NATO and the United States.

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