Rutte Rejects European Army Idea and Urges EU to Strengthen NATO

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has dismissed calls for the creation of a standalone European army, saying such a move would undermine collective defence and weaken Europe’s security rather than strengthen it.

His remarks come as debate grows in Europe over strategic autonomy, driven by concerns about future U.S. commitment to NATO.

Speaking in Brussels, Rutte said proposals for a European army were impractical and risked duplicating NATO’s command structures, planning systems and capabilities.

He argued that Europe’s security challenges are best addressed within the existing NATO alliance framework, which he described as the most effective military partnership in modern history.

• Mark Rutte rejects European army plan, urges EU to strengthen NATO
• Rutte warns EU army would weaken deterrence and benefit Russia
• NATO chief says Europe must boost defence spending within alliance framework

The debate has gained momentum following statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has questioned the level of U.S. support for allies that fail to meet defence spending targets. These comments have prompted some European leaders and officials to argue that Europe should be able to defend itself independently if Washington’s priorities shift.

Rutte rejected that logic, warning that any move away from NATO would be welcomed by Russia. He said a divided Western defence posture would benefit Moscow and reduce deterrence at a time when unity is critical. According to Rutte, the focus should be on increasing European defence investment and capabilities within NATO, not creating parallel institutions.

He also highlighted the financial burden of building an independent European force. Rutte said such a project would require significantly higher defence spending than current NATO targets and could even raise questions about nuclear deterrence, an area where Europe relies heavily on the United States.

Rutte stressed that NATO already provides a framework that allows European countries to cooperate, modernise their forces and share responsibilities with the United States. He urged European governments to meet agreed military readiness goals, particularly in response to the war in Ukraine.

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The comments underline NATO’s push to maintain cohesion as geopolitical uncertainty grows. While debates about Europe’s long-term defence role continue, Rutte made clear that NATO remains the cornerstone of European security.