‘Keep Dreaming,’ Says NATO Chief, Warning Europe Needs US for Defense

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned on Monday that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States, amid renewed calls for the continent to reduce its military dependence on Washington following tensions over Greenland.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently unsettled the transatlantic alliance by threatening to seize the autonomous Danish territory, before backing down after talks with Rutte last week. The episode gave new momentum to voices urging Europe to take a tougher stance toward Trump and strengthen its strategic independence.

“If anyone thinks that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the U.S., keep dreaming. You can’t,” Rutte told lawmakers at the European Parliament.

He said European countries would need to double defense spending beyond NATO’s five percent target agreed last year and invest “billions and billions” in nuclear capabilities to compensate for reduced U.S. support.

“You would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella,” Rutte said. “So, good luck.”

The former Dutch prime minister insisted that Washington’s commitment to NATO’s Article Five mutual defense clause remained “total,” while stressing that the United States expected European allies to continue increasing military spending.

“They need a secure Euro-Atlantic and a secure Europe. So the U.S. has every interest in NATO,” he said.

Rutte reiterated his praise for Trump’s efforts to pressure reluctant allies to boost defense budgets.

He also rejected proposals for a European defense force that could replace U.S. troops, an idea recently floated by EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius.

“It would make things more complicated. I think Putin would love it,” Rutte said. “So think again.”

On Greenland, Rutte said he and Trump agreed that NATO should take greater responsibility for Arctic defense, but emphasized that negotiations over any U.S. presence must be handled by Danish and Greenlandic authorities.

“I have no mandate to negotiate on behalf of Denmark, and I will not,” he said.

Rutte also said he reminded Trump of the sacrifices made by NATO allies in Afghanistan after the U.S. president downplayed their contributions.

“For every two American soldiers who paid the ultimate price, one soldier from an allied or partner country did not return home,” he said. “America greatly appreciates those efforts.”