NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has firmly rejected proposals for European-led military forces in Ukraine, underlining that the transatlantic partnership remains the cornerstone of Europe’s collective security.
In an interview published Thursday by German news agency dpa, Rutte said European defence efforts should strengthen NATO alongside the United States, not replace it.
The remarks come amid renewed debate in Europe over greater strategic autonomy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncertainty about long-term US engagement.
Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) and head of its group in the European Parliament, recently called for deploying European troops under EU command to help secure peace in Ukraine.
“I wish that soldiers with the European flag on their uniforms, together with our Ukrainian friends, would ensure peace,” Weber told German media outlet Funke.
Rutte, however, dismissed the idea of independent European security structures, saying they risk undermining NATO’s strength. “I’m absolutely convinced that the US is completely invested in NATO.
There’s no doubt,” he said, adding that Washington’s key expectation is for Europe to spend more on defence and assume greater responsibility within the alliance.
The NATO chief stressed that Europe and NATO are not synonymous, noting that only 23 of the EU’s 27 members belong to NATO and together account for roughly a quarter of the alliance’s total economic output. “When we talk about Europe and NATO, it’s more than just the EU,” Rutte said.
Highlighting shared strategic interests, Rutte pointed to the Arctic and North Atlantic as critical areas where cooperation between the US and Europe is indispensable. “A safe Arctic is crucial for the United States, and we can only defend that together, European and American NATO allies,” he said, warning of increased Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
Rutte also issued a stark warning about Russia’s future intentions, citing intelligence assessments suggesting Moscow could pose a serious threat to NATO territory as early as 2027.
While declining to speculate on specific scenarios, he emphasised the alliance’s collective defence principle. “If there is an attack on NATO, then we are all under attack – because that is Article 5,” he said.
According to Rutte, deterrence depends on two key factors: maintaining robust support for Ukraine and significantly increasing defence spending across the alliance. “If we do those two things, we are strong enough to defend ourselves, and Putin will never try,” he said.
In the interview, Rutte praised Germany’s pledge to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029, well ahead of NATO’s 2035 target agreed at the alliance’s summit in The Hague earlier this year. Calling the commitment “very impressive,” he said Germany was “leading the pack” among European allies.
Rutte’s comments signal NATO’s determination to preserve unity at a time of growing geopolitical tension, reinforcing the message that Europe’s security remains inseparable from its partnership with the United States.