Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A sharp exchange has erupted between France and NATO leadership over the continent’s capacity to defend itself, highlighting growing tensions within the alliance about Europe’s strategic independence.
The dispute was triggered by remarks from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to the European Parliament on Monday. Responding to a question from French far-right MEP Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Rutte suggested that Europe cannot defend itself without American support and dismissed recent proposals for a European army, calling the notion of a “European pillar” within NATO “a bit of an empty word.”
French officials reacted swiftly. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot rejected Rutte’s characterization, asserting, “No, dear Mark Rutte. Europeans can and must take charge of their own security. Even the United States agrees. This is the European pillar of NATO.” Barrot’s comments underscored a long-standing French push for a stronger, more autonomous European defense framework.
The debate comes amid broader shifts in transatlantic security dynamics. Since President Donald Trump returned to power, the U.S. has signaled it will play a less active role in European defense. A newly published U.S. National Defense Strategy emphasized that Europe must take the lead in countering threats, citing the continent’s economic and military capabilities to defend itself against Russia. Last year, Trump successfully encouraged European countries to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, further fueling discussions about the continent’s self-reliance.
French officials and former diplomats said Rutte’s remarks misrepresented European intentions and risked undermining NATO’s credibility. Muriel Domenach, France’s former ambassador to NATO, wrote on social media platform X that framing European defense as weak “is an outdated approach and sends the wrong message to Russia.” Similarly, French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin emphasized the need to strengthen NATO’s European pillar, noting that France’s vision of a more robust, coordinated European military capability has gained traction among other countries, including Germany.
The criticism extended to European politicians as well. Nathalie Loiseau, a former French minister and current MEP, called Rutte’s comments “a disgraceful moment,” arguing that attempts to appease Washington should not come at the expense of Europe’s strategic credibility. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking at Davos last week, also disputed Rutte’s assessment, affirming that Europe possesses the capacity to defend itself.
The exchange underscores a broader debate within NATO about the balance of responsibility between the United States and European allies. While the alliance remains committed to collective defense, France has consistently championed efforts to give Europe greater autonomy and reduce overreliance on U.S. military support.
As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, particularly with Russia, the incident highlights how diverging views on strategic independence could shape Europe’s defense policies in the years ahead. The debate over a European pillar of NATO is no longer theoretical, it has become a focal point for discussions about sovereignty, alliance cohesion, and the future of transatlantic security.
