NATO chief says Europe cannot defend itself without U.S., cites Greenland tensions

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told members of the European Parliament in Brussels that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States, saying, "If anyone thinks here again that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming." His remarks were meant to address growing anxiety about strains between the U.S.

and Europe after President Trump’s remarks and earlier threats over Greenland. Mr. Trump said in Davos that he would not seize Greenland and belittled Europe, and he had threatened additional tariffs on European countries that resisted his bid to control the island before backing those threats away.

Mr. Rutte, who has cultivated a close relationship with Mr. Trump, said he backed the president’s strategic vision for the Arctic and a stronger defense of Greenland and defended his role in trying to ease Mr. Trump away from escalating threats. Denmark’s and Greenland’s leaders have bristled at suggestions Mr.

Rutte or Mr. Trump might be negotiating Greenland’s future on their behalf; Mr. Rutte said, "Of course, I have no mandate to negotiate on behalf of Denmark, so I didn’t, and I will not." He said there were "two work streams going forward": talks among NATO allies on a broader Arctic defense plan that would involve Greenland, and a process involving representatives from the United States, Denmark and Greenland that began earlier this month in Washington and is continuing.

Key Topics

World, Mark Rutte, Nato, Greenland, Denmark, European Parliament