NATO chief: Europe must take charge without abandoning US alliance

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the European Union should gradually take on more responsibility for its own defence, but there is no need for Europe to become completely independent of the United States.

Speaking in an interview, Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, said Washington expects Europe to spend more on defence and shoulder greater responsibility.

“It is only logical that we gradually take on more responsibility for Europe’s defence—but alongside the US, which is fully committed to NATO, remains in the alliance, and stays in Europe,” he said.

Rutte made the comments when asked whether he shared the view of CSU politician Manfred Weber, who recently called for transforming the EU into a “European NATO.”

The transatlantic defence relationship remains firmly anchored in NATO, founded in 1949, with the US providing nuclear deterrence and leadership while Europe contributes increasingly to collective security.

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and US pressures under President Trump accelerated European rearmament. European Allies and Canada raised collective spending from 1.43% of GDP in 2014 to 2.02% in 2024; all Allies met or exceeded 2% in 2025.

At the June 2025 Hague Summit, Allies committed to a historic 5% GDP target by 2035: at least 3.5% on core defence (meeting NATO Capability Targets) and up to 1.5% on broader security (infrastructure, resilience, cyber). This rebalancing addresses long-standing US burden-sharing demands, allowing Washington to focus on Indo-Pacific priorities.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasises greater European responsibility "alongside the US," rejecting full independence. EU initiatives like PESCO and the Defence Fund complement NATO, not replace it. Proposals for a "European NATO" (e.g., from Manfred Weber) are dismissed; complementarity prevails.

By Aghakazim Guliyev