NATO Chief Mark Rutte Warns Europe Can't Defend Without U.S.
Rutte told EU lawmakers Europe would need 10% of GDP and nuclear forces to defend without U.S. support.
Overview
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told EU lawmakers in Brussels on Jan. 22, 2024, that Europe cannot defend itself without U.S. support and would need to spend 10% of GDP and build its own nuclear capability, saying "keep on dreaming."
The remarks came after President Donald Trump's renewed push to acquire Greenland and a Davos meeting with Rutte that produced a vague framework, events that have intensified debate over Arctic security, according to officials and participants.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeld met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington earlier this month, and Rasmussen called the meeting "constructive" while saying a "fundamental disagreement" persists.
At NATO's Hague summit allies pledged to spend 3.5% of GDP on core defense plus 1.5% on security-related infrastructure totaling 5% by 2035, records show, and Rutte said achieving strategic autonomy would require about 10% of GDP and "billions and billions of euros" for a nuclear force.
Rutte said NATO will pursue two work streams on Arctic defense and that trilateral U.S.-Denmark-Greenland talks will continue, and he warned EU lawmakers against imposing restrictive "buy EU" conditions on a €90 billion security loan that could hamper Ukraine's needs.
Analysis
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Sources (3)
FAQ
Rutte told EU lawmakers that Europe cannot defend itself without U.S. support and would need to spend 10% of GDP and develop its own nuclear forces, dismissing the idea with 'keep on dreaming.'
NATO allies pledged to spend 3.5% of GDP on core defense and 1.5% on security-related infrastructure, totaling 5% by 2035.
Rutte stated that achieving strategic autonomy without the U.S. would require 'billions and billions of euros' for a nuclear force in addition to 10% GDP spending.
Remarks followed Trump's push to acquire Greenland, a Davos meeting producing a vague Arctic framework, and U.S.-Denmark-Greenland talks where a 'fundamental disagreement' persists.
NATO will pursue two work streams on Arctic defense, and trilateral U.S.-Denmark-Greenland talks will continue.
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