NATO
NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has rejected calls for Europe to pursue an independent defense path separate from the United States, saying the transatlantic alliance remains vital to Europe’s security. In an interview published Thursday, Rutte stressed that while European countries should continue strengthening their military capabilities, they should do so within NATO rather than breaking away from U.S. partnership. (Euronews).
The debate has gained momentum after Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party and head of its group in the European Parliament, suggested deploying European troops under EU command to help secure peace in Ukraine (Associated Press).. Speaking to German media outlet Funke, Weber said he hoped European soldiers, wearing the EU flag, could work alongside Ukrainian forces to help guarantee stability. (Euronews).
Rutte firmly disagreed with that proposal, arguing that Europe does not need a separate defense structure outside NATO. (Euronews). He emphasized that NATO is larger than the European Union alone and includes key allies beyond Europe. According to Rutte, the 23 EU countries that are NATO members represent only about a quarter of the alliance’s total economic output, highlighting why cooperation with the United States remains essential. (Associated Press).
The NATO chief also pointed out to shared security interests between Europe and the U.S., especially in the Arctic and the North Atlantic.(Euronews). Â He warned that growing activity by Russian and Chinese ships in Arctic waters poses a strategic challenge. Defending the region, Rutte said, can only be done through joint efforts by European and American NATO allies. (Associated Press).
Looking ahead, Rutte cited intelligence assessments suggesting Russia could pose a serious threat to NATO as early as 2027. (Euronews).While he avoided predicting specific scenarios, he reiterated NATO’s core principle under Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. (Associated Press).
Rutte concluded that peace and deterrence depend on two key actions: maintaining strong support for Ukraine and increasing defense spending across NATO countries  (Euronews). If allies stay united and committed to these goals, he said, the alliance will remain strong enough to prevent any future aggression (Associated Press).
Sources: (Euronews). (Associated Press).
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