NATO’s Rutte Says Europe ‘Can’t’ Defend Itself Without U.S., Warns It Would Need 10% of GDP, New Nuclear Forces if Trump Greenland Rift Widens
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee that Europe “can’t” defend itself without U.S. support, warning that going it alone would require roughly 10% of GDP — including the cost of an independent nuclear deterrent — and that the U.S. nuclear umbrella remains the “ultimate guarantor” of European security. He cited tensions with President Trump over Greenland and tariff brinkmanship as evidence of strains inside NATO, stressed that Europe and the U.S. “need each other,” and echoed concerns about growing Arctic security challenges while Greenland’s leader signalled a preference for Denmark and NATO.
📌 Key Facts
- On Jan. 26 in Brussels, NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte told the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee that Europe "can’t" defend itself without U.S. support and told those who think otherwise to "keep on dreaming."
- Rutte said the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" is the "ultimate guarantor" of European freedom and warned Europe would lose that guarantee without American support.
- He argued that if Europe "went it alone" even a 5% of GDP defence target would be insufficient, estimating spending would need to reach around 10% of GDP — including the cost of building an independent European nuclear deterrent.
- Rutte pushed back at calls for full European "strategic autonomy," saying Europe and the United States "need each other" and that realistic self‑defence without Washington would be vastly more expensive than current plans.
- He referenced renewed tensions with Trump over Greenland — including annexation threats — saying those disputes are "festering" inside NATO even as allies agreed at the July Hague summit to match U.S. defence‑spending levels by 2035.
- Fox News reported that Trump initially threatened a 10% tariff on all NATO‑country goods (rising to 25% in June) until a Greenland deal was reached, then backed off after Davos while announcing a vague "framework" on Greenland and the Arctic.
- Greenland’s prime minister, Jens‑Frederik Nielsen, said on Jan. 13 that "if we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark and the EU."
- Rutte was quoted endorsing Trump’s vigilance on Arctic security, saying, "I think he’s right. There is an issue with the Arctic region," and citing increased Russian and Chinese presence there.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 27, 2026
5:04 PM
NATO chief warns Europe can’t defend itself without US as tensions rise over Greenland
New information:
- Article adds explicit detail that Trump initially threatened a 10% tariff on all NATO‑country goods, rising to 25% in June, until a Greenland deal was reached, then backed off after Davos while announcing a vague 'framework' on Greenland and the Arctic.
- It notes Greenland’s prime minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen publicly said on Jan. 13 that 'if we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark and the EU.'
- Rutte is quoted directly endorsing Trump’s vigilance on Arctic security, citing increased Russian and Chinese presence and saying, 'I think he’s right. There is an issue with the Arctic region.'
6:32 AM
NATO chief wishes 'good luck' to those who think Europe can defend itself without US help
New information:
- In a January 26 address to the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee in Brussels, NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte said Europe "can’t" defend itself without U.S. support and told those who think otherwise to "keep on dreaming."
- Rutte said that if Europe tried to “go it alone,” even the new 5% of GDP defense‑and‑security target would be insufficient and that spending would need to reach around 10% of GDP, including the cost of building an independent European nuclear deterrent.
- He explicitly tied Europe’s dependence to the U.S. "nuclear umbrella," calling it the "ultimate guarantor" of European freedom and telling lawmakers that without it Europe would lose that guarantee.
- Rutte referenced Trump’s renewed Greenland annexation threats and tariff brinkmanship, noting that tensions over Greenland are "festering" inside NATO even as allies agreed at the July Hague summit to Trump’s demand to match U.S. defense‑spending levels by 2035.
- He reiterated that Europe and the United States "need each other" and pushed back indirectly at French calls for full European "strategic autonomy" by arguing that realistic self‑defense without Washington would be vastly more expensive than current plans.
January 21, 2026