Europeans are “fantasizing” if they believe the continent can defend itself without U.S. support, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during a meeting with European Parliament members on Monday, highlighting both the high costs of independent defense and the need for a nuclear capability.
“If anyone thinks Europe or the EU can protect itself without the United States, they are dreaming,” Rutte stated. “It’s not possible. We need each other.”
Rutte’s comments come amid growing debate in Europe over whether the U.S. remains a dependable ally, following President Donald Trump’s tariff threats against NATO members over Greenland and a national defense strategy emphasizing homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere. Last year’s U.S. National Security Strategy also called on Europe to take primary responsibility for its own security.
His remarks drew criticism from France, the EU’s only nuclear-armed state. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot argued that Europeans must take responsibility for their own defense, potentially through a European pillar within NATO. Several security experts agreed, saying Europe cannot rely on the U.S. in future crises.
“No, dear Mark Rutte. Europeans can and must take charge of their own security,” Barrot wrote on X. “Even the U.S. supports this. This is what a European pillar in NATO means.”
Earlier this month, European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius urged countries to plan for how a European pillar could function if U.S. forces were reduced in Europe, and how to replace the 100,000-strong American military presence on the continent.
Gesine Weber, a senior researcher at ETH Zürich’s Center for Security Studies, criticized Rutte’s view, writing on Bluesky: “Rutte should stop imagining that the U.S. will always defend Europe. Europeans are not dreaming—they are strategizing because there’s no other choice.”
Rutte described the idea of a European pillar as somewhat hollow, warning it could create duplication and require finding enough personnel for national forces. “It would be added on top of what already exists, complicating matters. I’m sure Putin would like that,” he said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, responded that Europe could indeed defend itself and deter Russia if it focused and committed. He added that promoting a narrative of European helplessness is counterproductive and ignores the reality that the U.S. may not intervene.
Rutte also echoed past U.S. concerns about a European pillar duplicating NATO’s work or weakening the alliance, emphasizing that if Europe wants independent defense, spending would need to rise significantly—from the current 5% of GDP target to around 10%.
“You would also have to develop your own nuclear forces, which costs billions, losing the ultimate guarantor of freedom: the U.S. nuclear umbrella,” Rutte said.
French President Emmanuel Macron previously suggested extending France’s nuclear deterrent to European partners and plans to update France’s nuclear doctrine soon. Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has expressed openness to discussions with France on this topic.
Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken warned that an independent European defense would require a “drastic increase” in defense spending, with maintaining a nuclear umbrella potentially costing hundreds of billions.
Rutte stressed that the U.S. also benefits from NATO, keeping the Arctic, Atlantic, and Europe secure. “The U.S. has as much interest in NATO as Canada and the European allies,” he said.
Some analysts remain skeptical. Noah Barkin, a visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, noted that while the NATO chief cannot publicly suggest Europe prepare for a U.S.-absent scenario, doing so is urgent.
Rutte also highlighted the importance of American military aid to Ukraine, funded by NATO allies, and urged flexibility in how the EU’s €90 billion loan package is spent. “Europe’s defense industry is growing, which is vital, but it cannot yet meet Ukraine’s immediate needs. Without U.S. support, Ukraine cannot sustain its defense,” he said.
He added that European or domestic defense production is welcome, but without American weapons, Ukraine’s air-defense capabilities would be insufficient, making U.S. support indispensable.
