NATO at a crossroad?
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Affirms President Trump’s Warning on Alliance Sustainability** In a candid address to the European Parliament on January 26, 2026, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a direct and uncompromising warning to European leaders: the continent is incapable of defending itself without the full support of the United States. “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,” Rutte declared. He went on to stress that any attempt at full strategic autonomy would require European nations to more than double their recently agreed defense spending targets and invest “billions and billions” in independent capabilities, including nuclear deterrence. Without the U.S. nuclear umbrella, he added, Europe would “lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom.” Rutte’s remarks represent a clear validation of President Donald Trump’s long-standing position on the NATO alliance. F...