(In a blunt reality check delivered to EU lawmakers and global leaders in Davos, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declared on Monday, January 26, 2026, that any notion of a “self-sufficient” European defense is a fantasy.)
Speaking just days after a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum, Rutte told a panel that if anyone believes the European Union can protect itself without the United States, they should “keep on dreaming”. Rutte argued that for Europe to even attempt such a feat, defense spending would need to skyrocket to 10% of GDP—a figure that would cost “billions and billions of euros” and require the continent to develop its own independent nuclear capability.
Rutte’s remarks come as he continues to defend his “strategic praise” of President Trump, whom he credited with being the “catalyst” for European allies finally hitting their 2% spending targets. While some EU leaders have pushed for “strategic autonomy” amid Trump’s threats over Greenland and NATO commitments, Rutte remained steadfast that the U.S. nuclear umbrella is the “ultimate security guarantee” for the free world. He emphasized that the relationship is reciprocal, noting that the United States also needs a strong NATO to secure the Arctic and the Atlantic against growing Russian and Chinese ambitions.
