NATO Chief Blocks EU Defence Break from US « Euro Weekly News

The idea of Europe standing fully on its own militarily has been gaining traction in recent months, fuelled by war in Ukraine, fears over Russia’s next move and doubts about how long US support can be taken for granted. But NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte is having none of it.

In an interview published on Thursday, December  26 Rutte firmly rejected calls for an EU-only defence structure separate from the United States, making it clear that Europe’s security still depends on the transatlantic alliance. His comments land at a sensitive moment, as senior European figures openly discuss whether the EU should take charge of its own military future.

EU troops in Ukraine? NATO chief pours cold water on the idea

The debate was reignited by Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party and head of its group in the European Parliament. Speaking to German outlet Funke, Weber said he would like to see European troops under EU command playing a role in guaranteeing peace in Ukraine.

“I wish that soldiers with the European flag on their uniforms, together with our Ukrainian friends, would ensure peace,” Weber said — a remark that reflects growing frustration in some EU capitals about relying so heavily on Washington.

Rutte, however, was quick to shut down the idea. Speaking to German news agency dpa, he stressed that boosting Europe’s defence capacity does not mean breaking away from the US.

“I’m absolutely convinced that the US is completely invested in NATO,” Rutte said. “There’s no doubt.” What Washington expects, he added, is not independence, but greater effort from Europe, particularly when it comes to defence spending.

In other words, Europe doing more is welcome – as long as it happens within NATO, not alongside or outside it.

Why NATO still matters more than the EU alone

One of Rutte’s key points is that Europe’s security landscape is bigger than the European Union. While 23 EU countries are members of NATO, they represent only about a quarter of the alliance’s overall economic power.

“When we talk about Europe and NATO, it’s more than just the EU,” Rutte said, pushing back against the idea that Brussels could realistically replace NATO’s role.

He also underlined that the US has its own strong reasons for staying involved. Beyond keeping Europe stable, Washington has a clear interest in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, regions that are becoming increasingly strategic.

“The Arctic is a big issue,” Rutte warned. “We see Chinese and Russian ships travelling there.” According to him, defending these areas is simply not something Europe can do alone. “We can only defend the Arctic together – European and American NATO allies together.”

For Rutte, this shared exposure to global threats is exactly why talk of cutting defence ties with the US is misguided. The risks, he suggests, are collective – and so must be the response.

Russia, 2027 warnings and Germany’s new role

The NATO chief also struck a sober tone when discussing Russia’s long-term intentions. While avoiding specific predictions, he referred to intelligence assessments suggesting that Russia could be capable of posing a serious threat as early as 2027.

“I will not speculate on where and when and how exactly,” Rutte said. “But if there is an attack on NATO, then we are all under attack.” He pointed to Article 5, the cornerstone of the alliance, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

Rutte argued that preventing such a scenario depends on two things: continued strong support for Ukraine and significantly higher defence spending across NATO. Get those right, he said, and Moscow is unlikely to test the alliance.

“If we do those two things, we are strong enough to defend ourselves, and Putin will never try,” he added.

In that context, Rutte reserved particular praise for Germany, which has pledged to raise defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2029. That is well ahead of the 2035 deadline agreed at NATO’s summit in The Hague earlier this year.

Calling the move “very impressive”, Rutte said Berlin is now “leading the pack” among European allies – a notable shift for a country that has long been criticised for falling short on military investment.

As Europe continues to debate its strategic future, Rutte’s message is blunt but consistent: Europe should step up, spend more and take greater responsibility for its own security – but not by turning its back on the United States.

In a world where threats are increasingly global, NATO’s chief believes the answer is not separation, but deeper cooperation. Whether Europe’s political mood continues to move in that direction remains to be seen.