Rutte’s remarks were a direct response to recent comments by Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People’s Party, who questioned whether Europe can continue to rely on Washington amid political uncertainty in the U.S. In an interview with Funke Media Group, Weber argued that Europe must be prepared to act more autonomously.
“We cannot seriously expect Trump to secure a peace solution on his own with American GIs,” Weber said, calling for European soldiers to operate under a European flag as part of future security arrangements in Ukraine.
The exchange comes amid a broader debate in Europe over strategic autonomy as the EU ramps up defense spending and prepares for a more volatile geopolitical environment. While many leaders agree that Europe must do more militarily, Rutte has warned against framing the effort as a decoupling from NATO.
He has noted that most of the defense alliance’s economic and military power still lies outside the EU, above all in the United States, making transatlantic cooperation indispensable.