NATO Chief Rutte Warns Europe Can't Defend Without U.S.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told members of the European Parliament in Brussels on Jan. 22, 2024, that Europe "cannot" defend itself without U.S. support and said, "keep on dreaming" if anyone believes otherwise, according to his speech transcript.

Rutte warned that Europe would have to raise defense spending to 10% of gross domestic product and build its own nuclear capability, a transition he said would cost "billions and billions of euros," officials confirmed.

The remarks came after a week of tensions over President Donald Trump's public push regarding Greenland and a framework he said he reached with Rutte, a development whose details remain unclear and are contested by European officials.

NATO comprises 32 nations and at the July Hague summit allies pledged a combined 5% of GDP on core defense and security-related infrastructure by 2035, but Rutte said true autonomy would require 10% of GDP, officials noted.

Rutte said NATO will pursue two work streams going forward on collective Arctic defense and trilateral talks between the United States, Denmark and Greenland, and he said he would not negotiate on Denmark's behalf, officials confirmed.