A Clash of Ideas: NATO's Leader vs. Europe's Army Ambition

Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, recently shot down the idea of a separate European army. This idea has been floating around among some European leaders. They're worried about Donald Trump's dedication to Europe's safety, especially after some drama over Greenland. Rutte didn't hold back. He told supporters of a European force to "keep dreaming. " He believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be thrilled about this idea. Why? Because it would divide Europe's military power, making them weaker. Rutte spoke to the European Parliament in Brussels. He thinks Europe should take more responsibility for its own security. But he wants this to happen within NATO, not outside of it. Some politicians, like Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, have been talking about a European force lately.Rutte didn't name them directly, but he made it clear he's not a fan. He thinks a separate army would just create more work and confusion. He also pointed out that finding enough soldiers would be a challenge. Rutte had some strong words for those pushing for a European army. He said it would cost a lot more than the 5% of GDP that NATO countries have agreed to spend on defense. He also mentioned that Europe would need its own nuclear capability, which would cost billions. He warned that going it alone could mean losing the protection of the U. S. nuclear umbrella. In short, he thinks it's a bad idea.