French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has reaffirmed that Europeans can and must take charge of their own security. He is responding to statements by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who emphasized Europe's dependence on the United States. These exchanges highlight ongoing debates on European strategic autonomy.
On Monday evening, Jean-Noël Barrot, French Foreign Minister, directly reacted to statements made by Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, before the European Parliament in Brussels. Rutte had asserted that Europe could not defend itself alone without U.S. help, emphasizing their mutual interdependence.
«And if someone here still thinks that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the United States, keep dreaming. You cannot. We cannot, we need each other», Rutte told MEPs during a question-and-answer session.
He added that building a European defensive alliance without the United States would cost not 5% but 10% of GDP, and would require its own nuclear deterrence capability. «That costs billions and billions of euros. And in that scenario, you would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, namely the American nuclear umbrella. So, good luck!», he quipped.
In response, Barrot posted on X: «No, dear Mark Rutte. Europeans can and must take charge of their security». He continued: «Even the United States agrees. It is the European pillar of NATO».
These statements come amid discussions on strengthening European defense within the Atlantic Alliance, where the European pillar's contribution is increasingly highlighted.
