France challenges NATO chief, calls for Europe-led defence strategy

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot responded to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who had cautioned against creating a unified European army, emphasising that Europe must assume responsibility for its own security.

Barrot wrote on X that while the United States remains a pillar of European security, Europeans are capable of and obligated to ensure their own defence, Caliber.Az reports.

Non, cher Mark Rutte. Les Européens peuvent et doivent prendre en charge leur sécurité. Même les États-Unis en conviennent. C’est le pilier européen de l'OTAN. https://t.co/oEzSfewFZU

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) January 26, 2026

He also noted that US President Donald Trump expressed a similar view: “Europeans can and must take responsibility for their own security. Even the United States agrees. They are NATO’s European backbone.”

Rutte, speaking at the European Parliament on January 26, warned that forming a separate European army could weaken overall continental security, benefit Russia, duplicate NATO functions and structures, and complicate defence readiness. 

He added, however, that the decision to create a European army should ultimately be made by European states themselves.

By Jeyhun Aghazada