According to Rutte, the big economies in Europe — including Spain, Italy and France — would have never agreed to allocate 2 percent of their GDP to defense if Trump had not become the U.S. president again.
“No way, without Donald Trump this would never have happened. They’re all on 2 percent now,” Rutte said. “I’m absolutely convinced without Donald Trump you would not have taken those decisions and they are crucial, particularly for the European and the Canadian side of NATO to really grow up in the post-Cold War world.”
Rutte’s own country, the Netherlands, which he led as prime minister for 14 years from 2010 to 2024, has been accused of underspending on defense on his watch.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has forced European countries to ramp up defense spending, while also preparing for a potential drawdown of American troops on the continent as Trump shifts America’s military priorities.
“The Americans still have over 80,000 soldiers in Europe … including in Poland and Germany and so they are still heavily invested in European defense. And yes, they have to pivot more towards Asia. So it is only logical for them to expect us, Europe, to step up over time,” Rutte continued, adding that the nuclear umbrella is the ultimate guarantee.
NATO allies reached a deal last summer on setting a new defense spending target of 5 percent of GDP by 2035. That demand was originally raised by Trump, who has repeatedly worried allies that he might walk away from the military alliance that underpins European security.