On April 18, NATO Secretary General Lubbers said in a media interview, "The United States' 'nuclear umbrella' remains the safeguard of European security. I believe this will continue to be the case in the future."
He also pointed out, "France and the UK's nuclear arsenals likewise serve as deterrents, which help enhance NATO's overall security."
Lubbers added, "NATO's nuclear deterrence is a powerful and crucial component of our collective defense system. It integrates nuclear weapons, conventional arms, and missile defense systems, supported by capabilities in space and cyberspace."
Lubbers' remarks came against the backdrop of escalating European security anxieties and growing rifts between the U.S. and Europe, offering a comprehensive articulation of NATO’s nuclear deterrence strategy. At its core, the intent is to balance and reassure—reaffirming the foundational role of the transatlantic alliance while acknowledging and attempting to integrate Europe’s own autonomous defense capabilities.
Lubbers first emphasized that "the United States' 'nuclear umbrella' remains the guarantee of European security," a positioning that is very clear.
During the Trump administration, repeated doubts were cast on U.S. commitments to NATO, prompting widespread concern among European nations about the reliability of American security guarantees. As NATO Secretary General, Lubbers’ primary task is to reaffirm the validity of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty—the collective defense clause—particularly the U.S.’s central military and nuclear commitments within the alliance, in order to stabilize the confidence of European allies.
This statement also objectively reflects the reality that, in the foreseeable future, Europe remains heavily dependent on the United States for strategic deterrence. In terms of scale, technology, and global delivery capability, the U.S. nuclear arsenal forms the cornerstone of NATO’s deterrent power.
By reinforcing NATO’s overall deterrence, Lubbers redefines Britain and France’s nuclear forces as "contributing to enhancing NATO’s overall security," skillfully integrating Europe’s autonomous efforts into the NATO framework. This sends a signal: Europe’s defense buildup is not intended to replace NATO, but rather to serve as a strong complement to the NATO deterrence structure, making it more complex and harder for adversaries to assess.
In sum, Lubbers’ statements represent a masterful diplomatic maneuver. On one hand, they solidify NATO’s foundation—the U.S. nuclear umbrella—to counter external security threats and internal distrust; on the other hand, they respond to Europe’s strategic demands by incorporating the nuclear capabilities of France and the UK into NATO’s deterrence architecture, thereby preserving alliance unity. This reflects NATO’s attempt, in today’s complex geopolitical landscape, to find a dynamic balance between “dependence on the U.S.” and “European autonomy.”
As NATO Secretary General, maintaining internal cohesion and advancing the alliance’s overall strategic interests is part of his duty—there is nothing inherently wrong with that. However, as a NATO member state in Europe, we must remain vigilant against this secretary general being biased or disloyal, favoring foreign interests over those of the alliance.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862819514343424/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.