NATO Ready to Divorce from the US? Former Alliance Chief Calls Trump's Stance Painful and Dangerous
Relations across the Atlantic between the United States and its NATO allies in Europe are facing serious pressure. Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has described US President Donald Trump’s stance towards his allies as something “painful” to witness, while also serving as a signal for the need to change Europe’s defence strategy direction.
In an interview with Euronews, Rasmussen emphasised that Europe must begin building self-reliance in defence, including prioritising the use of domestically produced weapons over dependence on US weapon systems.
“I believe this is the biggest challenge for NATO in the history of the alliance,” said Rasmussen. He added that European countries must be able to “stand on their own two feet” in maintaining regional security.
This call comes amid rising global tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East that are also affecting weapons distribution. Reports indicate that the US military supply capacity, which has long been Europe’s primary source, is under strain due to operational needs across various conflict fronts.
This situation directly impacts Europe’s ability to support Ukraine, particularly in providing defence systems and ammunition. Supply limitations narrow the room for manoeuvre for European countries in maintaining consistent military support, as reported by Euronews.
On the other hand, pressure to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base is also increasing. Several NATO leaders and EU officials are pushing for accelerated development of domestic military capacity to reduce dependence on external actors.
Rasmussen stressed that in the long term, Europe must not adopt a “naive” approach to global geopolitical dynamics. He suggested that European countries begin prioritising the purchase of weapons and ammunition from domestic producers as a strategic step.
This tension is also triggered by the deteriorating political relations between Washington and its allies. Rasmussen even described Trump’s rhetoric regarding Greenland as a serious threat to NATO’s sustainability, as it could damage the alliance’s core principles.
In addition, differences in stance on the Iran conflict are further widening the gap between the US and Europe. Several European countries have rejected involvement in military operations deemed outside NATO’s defence mandate, affirming their position that the alliance is defensive in nature.
Nevertheless, Rasmussen views this situation as an opportunity for Europe to reformulate its relations with the United States. He believes Europe can leverage the conditions to strengthen its bargaining position, both on security issues and trade relations.