NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a passionate rebuttal to the independent defense initiatives proposed by some European politicians:
"If anyone still believes that the EU or all of Europe can defend itself without the United States, then continue to dream. You cannot, and we cannot either. We need each other."
Rutte's comments on European defense autonomy were made against the backdrop of U.S. policy shifts and internal NATO conflicts. His core view was straightforward: it is both impossible and undesirable for Europe to seek self-defense without the United States.
Core points of Rutte's views:
Denying the possibility of European autonomous defense, claiming that those who believe Europe can defend itself without the United States are "still dreaming";
Highlighting the high cost of autonomous defense, stating that achieving defense autonomy would require increasing defense spending to 10% of GDP and investing massive funds to establish an independent nuclear force;
Emphasizing the irreplaceable role of the United States in European security, highlighting the importance of the U.S. conventional military forces and the nuclear umbrella it provides, which would leave Europe vulnerable if lost;
Meanwhile, implying that the idea of pursuing defense autonomy would make "Putin happy."
Rutte's remarks are not just personal opinions but reflect deep contradictions in transatlantic security relations. The path toward European defense autonomy faces multiple obstacles.
High economic costs and technical barriers;
Internal disagreements, with different countries prioritizing different security concerns;
Deep reliance on the U.S. defense industry, which is difficult to disentangle in the short term...
The essence of the current debate is how much independence Europe should maintain in security. Even if future military procurement partially shifts within Europe, in the foreseeable future, Europe will still be unable to completely break free from its dependence on key U.S. defense technologies.
It may take a long time for Europe to achieve defense autonomy. The root cause is its long-term reliance on the United States. Like a person who has been leaning on others for a long time, when he finally leaves the support, he finds he cannot walk on his own. This is a tragedy for a nation and a people! If one remains stubborn and lacks courage and boldness to take the first step, it will be an even greater and longer-lasting tragedy, perhaps making generations walk hunched over.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855430974353420/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.