NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, has urged the US and Europe to remain united, warning against isolationist approaches amid rumours of wavering commitments to the alliance. Speaking in Warsaw, Rutte emphasised that neither Europe nor North America should “go it alone” in the face of growing global security challenges. He stressed that NATO remains vital for keeping the West safe, highlighting the importance of both European nations increasing their defence spending and the US maintaining its support.
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Rutte made it clear that Europe needs reassurance that “Uncle Sam still has our back,” while the US also needs to know that its NATO allies will step up their responsibilities. This comes at a time when the alliance faces pressure following the election of Donald Trump, with key members of his administration allegedly complaining about European countries not contributing enough to defence. Trump’s new defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, had hinted at a reduced US focus on European security and possible troop reductions, raising concerns.
Amid these uncertainties, reports surfaced that the US was considering relinquishing the role of NATO’s supreme allied commander, traditionally held by an American. However, this idea has reportedly been shelved, and the UK remains particularly keen on ensuring the US continues its strong role in NATO, especially as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine poses potential threats along the alliance’s eastern borders. Trump has downplayed speculation, reaffirming NATO’s strength while calling for fair treatment of the US by its allies.
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European countries have already begun responding, with the UK planning to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and Germany loosening debt restrictions to boost military funding. Rutte acknowledged that the US expects European allies and Canada to take on more responsibility for shared security and promised to work towards this goal at the next NATO summit in The Hague.
