‘Keep on Dreaming,’ You Need America’s Protection, or You’re Toast [WATCH]

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Europe cannot defend itself without the United States and dismissed calls for European military independence, emphasizing the continued importance of the NATO alliance.

Speaking about transatlantic cooperation, Rutte also referenced President Donald Trump’s actions and said, “So when President Trump is doing good stuff, I will place him and I don’t mind him publishing text messages.”

Rutte argued that any suggestion Europe could operate without U.S. support is unrealistic, stating, “And if anyone thinks here again, that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming.”

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He added, “You can’t. We can’t. We need each other.”

Rutte said the relationship between the United States and Europe is mutual, explaining that the U.S. also relies on NATO for its own security. “And why do we need each other? I tell you, first of all, because also the US needs NATO,” he said.

He pointed to historical context and strategic considerations, saying, “And us is not only in NATO to prevent a mistake after the second after the First World War, not to re engage with Europe and then again, the long arm of history reaching out to the US again in the Second World War, as Churchill famously said in his speech in 1941 in the US Congress, they are also in NATO because for the US to stay safe, and by the way, Arctic region is evidence here, they need a secure Arctic. They need to secure Euro Atlantic, and they also need to secure Europe.”

Rutte said the United States has a direct interest in maintaining NATO alongside its allies, adding, “So the US has every interest in NATO, as much as Canada and the European NATO, NATO allies.”

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He also rejected proposals for Europe to build an independent defense structure, arguing the costs and consequences would be significant.

“But for Europe, if you really want to go it alone, and those who you are planning for that, forget that you can never get there with 5% it will be 10% you have to build up your own nuclear capability,” Rutte said.

He continued, “That costs billions and billions of euros.”

Rutte warned that such a move would come at the expense of existing security guarantees, stating, “You will lose. Then, in that scenario, you would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella.”

He concluded his remarks with a warning directed at those advocating for European self-sufficiency, saying, “So, hey, good luck.”

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