NATO SecGen, “Europe Needs the US”
…France surrenders.
NATO’s Rutte says Europe can’t defend itself without US; France balks
By Rudy Ruitenberg
PARIS — Europeans are “dreaming” if they think the continent can defend itself without the United States, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a meeting with members of the European Parliament on Monday, citing the costs of going it alone and the need to build up a nuclear capability.
“If anyone thinks here that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming,” Rutte said. “You can’t. We can’t. We need each other.”
Rutte’s remarks come as Europe questions whether the U.S. is still a reliable ally following tariff threats by President Donald Trump against NATO allies over Greenland and a national defense strategy prioritizing homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere. Last year’s U.S. National Security Strategy called on Europe to take primary responsibility for its own defense.
The NATO chief prompted pushback from France, the European Union’s only nuclear power, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot saying Europeans need to take their own security in hand through a European pillar within NATO.
Several security policy analysts said Europe has no choice, because the U.S. can no longer be trusted to come to its aid.
“No, dear Mark Rutte. Europeans can and must take charge of their own security,” Barrot said in a post on X. “Even the United States agrees. This is the European pillar of NATO.”
European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius earlier this month called on countries to consider how they would create a European pillar in NATO if the U.S. does shift from Europe, and what would replace the 100,000-strong American standing military force on the continent.
NATO was founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies. Since neither actually exist some long-needed changes are coming, and the EU is nervous.
So the real questions, how much longer will America pony along these open-border Euro-socialists by covering their defense costs, and does the US need NATO at all? I’d be nervous too.
Category: NATO
Europe needs the US, but at this point, the US definitely doesn’t need Europe.
They’re still under old school Cold War mentality.
The yappy little dog ir realizing the silent big dog back up has different interests than them? Trump told them his first go round for them to increase their defense spending, and when he didn’t win a second term immediately, they returned to their old ways. Sucks to be them right now.
A capable European defense without the US comes at the cost of all their taxpayer-funded freebies and is manned by unwilling conscripts, including many Islamic immigrants (who will not accept that), in the absence of home-grown youth. Neither of these are happening. Hence their need for Ukraine to win.
Reached for comment, Captain Obvious was direct:
Seems to me the Euros developed into the snotty spoiled brat because they knew “Daddy” (the US) was behind them protecting them from the big bad bully and buying them all the new toys.
Now “Dad” has said it’s time to start thinking about your own future and make your own “living”. Gasp.
I realize that the Soviets were the big bad wolf back in the 50’s on, but given Putin’s actions, I’m not certain he isn’t trying to put it back together. They (Russia) don’t feel comfortable unless they have vassal states as a buffer and source of materials / money. IMO the Ukranian debacle should have been a huge wake up for all of Europe, especially the Eastern countries.
NATO can’t Defend itself against who?
Russia? The same country that can’t conquer the Ukraine in four years? The country that has to lure and traffic people from foreign countries to fill foxholes?
If Russia invaded Turkey the Turks they would curb stomp them. Their military alone is larger than that of France, UK, Germany and Italy combined. Plus the Turks are excellent fighters they understand strategy even if they are less than perfect with logistics. If NATO can’t defend itself without the US it is matter of lack of will.
That said the US is a huge force multiplier with assets that no other military has. Casualties drop to almost nothing compared to WWII days and dominance of the land, sea and air is assured in Europe at least.