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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has triggered a sharp political backlash across Europe after bluntly dismissing calls for the continent to pursue strategic independence from the United States in security and defense matters.

Speaking before members of the European Parliament on January 26, 2026, Rutte said the idea that Europe could defend itself without Washington was unrealistic, telling lawmakers to “keep on dreaming.”

“If anyone thinks here, again, that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming. You can’t. We can’t. We need each other,” Rutte said during an exchange with members of the Parliament’s security and foreign affairs committees.

His remarks come at a sensitive moment for transatlantic relations, following a diplomatic crisis sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to seize Greenland from Denmark through punitive measures.

The dispute pushed relations between Washington and several European capitals to their most strained point in decades before being defused by talks led by Rutte, which resulted in an agreement to enhance NATO’s role in Arctic security.

Greenland Crisis Fuels Debate

The Greenland episode has given new momentum to voices within the European Union arguing that the bloc must reduce its reliance on the United States and take greater responsibility for its own defense.

Trump’s threat against an autonomous Danish territory alarmed European leaders and raised concerns about the reliability of Washington’s security guarantees, particularly as global tensions intensify.

Rutte acknowledged the seriousness of the crisis but insisted that the solution lay in reinforcing, not weakening, the transatlantic alliance. He said NATO had agreed to “take more responsibility for the defense of the Arctic,” while stressing that negotiations over any U.S. military presence in Greenland remained the responsibility of Danish and Greenlandic authorities.

“I have no mandate to negotiate on behalf of Denmark, so I didn’t, and I will not,” Rutte said. Despite efforts to calm tensions, the crisis has strengthened calls for Europe to stand more firmly on its own feet, especially in light of growing geopolitical instability and concerns about future U.S. commitments.

Defense Spending and the Nuclear Question

Rutte argued that replacing U.S. military backing would come at an enormous cost for Europe. According to the NATO chief, European countries would need to increase defense spending to around 10% of GDP, double the current NATO target of 5%, to compensate for the loss of American support.

“You’d have to build up your own nuclear capability. That costs billions and billions of euros,” he said. “In that scenario, you would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella. So, hey, good luck!”

He also rejected the idea of a fully autonomous European defense force that could replace U.S. troops on the continent, warning that such a move could undermine NATO cohesion and embolden adversaries. Referring to Russia, Rutte said, “It will make things more complicated. I think Putin will love it. So, think again.”

At the same time, Rutte reaffirmed that the U.S. commitment to NATO’s Article Five mutual defense clause remained “total,” while noting that Washington expects European allies to continue increasing military spending and capabilities.

European Commission Pushes Gradual Independence

The European Commission responded cautiously to Rutte’s remarks, seeking to strike a balance between reinforcing NATO and advancing European resilience. Paula Pinho, the Commission’s chief spokesperson, said the political focus should remain on making the EU “increasingly resilient” and “increasingly independent” across multiple areas, including defense and security.

“We have a positive story to tell in terms of how we’ve been able to reduce our dependence on imports of fossil fuels from Russia,” Pinho said. “Such dependencies are seen also in other areas: on defense, on critical raw materials.”

She added that the Commission is working to reduce Europe’s exposure and vulnerabilities through a range of policy measures. Pinho pointed to a recent speech by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for greater “European independence” in response to rising geopolitical confrontation. Von der Leyen has also signaled that a new EU security strategy is in the works, with particular attention to the Arctic region.

“We’re really pulling together a number of measures with one aim,” Pinho said. “To ensure that we can achieve such a gradual independence.”

French Backlash Intensifies

The strongest political reaction to Rutte’s comments came from France, long a leading advocate of European “strategic autonomy” and a stronger European defense industrial base. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot publicly rejected Rutte’s position, saying Europeans must take responsibility for their own security.

“No, dear Mark Rutte. Europeans can and must take charge of their own security. Even the United States agrees. It is the European pillar of NATO,” Barrot said in a public post.

Benjamin Haddad, France’s deputy minister for European affairs, echoed the criticism, noting that Europe, not the United States, is currently the largest donor to Ukraine. He argued that Europe faces no alternative but to move faster on defense integration.

“We have to go much further. We have no other choice. We see a world that is becoming more brutal, more violent,” Haddad said. “We see threats coming from American allies against the sovereignty of Denmark.”

“It is now time to take matters into our own hands and defend our security. But the truth is: Europeans are not weak. We have the tools. We have the instruments,” he added.

French members of the European Parliament were equally outspoken. Nathalie Loiseau, who attended the committee meeting where Rutte spoke, described the exchange as “a disgraceful moment,” accusing the NATO chief of trying to ingratiate himself with Trump at Europe’s expense. “We don’t need a Trump zealot. NATO needs to rebalance between U.S. and European efforts,” she said.

Personal Tone Draws Criticism

Rutte’s personal praise of Trump also attracted attention. Referring to Trump’s decision to publish private messages between them, Rutte said, “When President Trump is doing good stuff, I will praise him, and I don’t mind him publishing text messages.”

The comment revived criticism over Rutte’s past remarks, including an instance during last year’s Israel-Iran conflict when he referred to Trump as “daddy,” a phrase Trump later used to defend his own foreign policy decisions.

Charles Michel, the former president of the European Council, seized on the episode to mock Rutte’s stance. “Dear Mark Rutte, you’re wrong. Europe will defend itself. And Donald Trump is not my daddy,” Michel said, calling instead for “vision, courage and leadership.”

Despite the controversy, Rutte used his appearance in Parliament to underline NATO’s ongoing efforts to support Ukraine, including military assistance and humanitarian aid. He highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia’s continued attacks on energy infrastructure during winter.

He also welcomed increased European defense investment and stressed that NATO and EU efforts must remain complementary rather than competitive. Rutte noted that non-EU NATO allies play an indispensable role in collective defense and warned against initiatives that could fragment existing security structures.

“My argument will be, let’s be practical, let’s be realistic when it comes to our security,” Rutte said. “We need to leverage our respective strengths… that’s the only way to keep Europe safe.”

As Europe debates its strategic future, Rutte’s remarks have laid bare a fundamental divide: whether the continent’s security is best guaranteed through deeper autonomy or continued reliance on the transatlantic partnership that has underpinned European defence for nearly eight decades.