NATO’s European Dependence Exposed: Can Europe Really Defend Itself Without America?

In a stark reminder of the transatlantic alliance’s reality, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently delivered a sobering message to European policymakers: Europe cannot defend itself without America. His candid admission exposes the limits of European defense ambitions and highlights the ongoing necessity of robust U.S. military presence to preserve Western security.Can Europe Achieve True Strategic Autonomy Without Breaking the Bank?Rutte left no room for illusion when he told EU lawmakers in Brussels that any hope of European self-sufficiency in defense is just that—a hope with little foundation. "If anyone thinks that Europe can defend itself without the U.S., keep on...