Archive · 27 Jan 2026
NATO Chief: Europe Needs US for Defense
Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, said that Europe cannot defend itself without the help of the United States.
He told European leaders that they would need to spend much more on defense to match the US.
Some countries, like France, want Europe to be more independent in defense, but Rutte said that without the US, Europe would lose important protection.
There were also talks about Greenland, which is part of Denmark, and some tensions with the US president about it.
NATO countries agreed to spend more on defense in the future, but Rutte said that even that might not be enough without the US.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Europe cannot defend itself without US military support.
Europe would need to more than double current military spending targets to match US capabilities.
Tensions within NATO over US President Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.
NATO allies, except Spain and Canada, agreed to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.
France leads calls for Europe to build its 'strategic autonomy' in defense.
- Who
- Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General
- What
- NATO's need for US military support and Europe's defense capabilities
- When
- January 26, 2024
- Where
- European Parliament, Brussels
- Why
- To address Europe's defense capabilities and the need for US support
Pro-US Defense
European Autonomy
Defense Capabilities
Pro-US Defense
Europe cannot defend itself without US military support and would need to significantly increase defense spending to match US capabilities.
European Autonomy
Europe should strive for strategic autonomy and build its own defense capabilities, including nuclear, to reduce reliance on the US.
- Person
- Mark Rutte (NATO Secretary General)
- Date
- January 26, 2024
- Location
- European Parliament, Brussels
- Key Regions
- Europe, United States, Greenland
- Key Countries
- United States, Russia, China, Denmark, Greenland, France
- Defense Spending Target
- 5% of GDP by 2035 (3.5% on core defense, 1.5% on security-related infrastructure)
- NATO Mutual Defense Clause
- Article 5 of NATO’s founding Washington treaty
Sources
NATO chief Marks Rutte says two 'workstreams' on Greenland agreed with Trump
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‘Good Luck’ To Those Who Think Europe Can Defend Itself Without US Help: NATO Chief Mark Rutte
‘Keep on dreaming’: NATO chief’s claims Europe can’t defend itself without US
Denmark and Greenland prime ministers to visit Berlin and Paris