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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte pushed back against calls for Europe to establish a security structure independent of the United States, stressing that European security cannot be ensured without Washington.
Speaking to German news agency dpa, Rutte said he firmly believes the U.S. remains fully committed to NATO.
He added that the key expectation is for Europe to take on greater responsibility and increase defense spending, rather than separating from the U.S.
Rutte said boosting Europe’s defense capacity should be done together with the United States, not independently.
He also emphasized that NATO is broader than the European Union, noting that the 23 EU members within NATO account for only a quarter of the alliance’s total economic power.
Rutte’s comments followed remarks by Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, who called for deploying European troops under EU command to help secure peace in Ukraine.
Weber said in an interview with Germany’s Funke media group that he would like to see soldiers under the European flag working alongside Ukrainians to guarantee peace.
Rutte said he does not share that view.
Rutte underlined shared U.S.-European interests, particularly in the defense of the Arctic region and the North Atlantic.
He said Arctic security is vital for the United States and can only be ensured through joint efforts by European and American NATO allies.
Pointing to the presence of Chinese and Russian vessels in the region, Rutte said the Arctic is a major issue that requires collective defense.
Rutte also warned that intelligence assessments suggest Russia could pose a serious threat as early as 2027.
He said any attack on NATO would be considered an attack on all allies, underscoring the meaning of NATO’s Article 5.
He stressed that continued support for Ukraine and increased defense spending are key to deterring Russia.
Rutte praised Germany’s plan to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029, saying the move surpasses the alliance’s 2035 targets.
“Germany is showing an impressive performance and taking a leading role in Europe,” he said.
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