'You Would Lose The Ultimate...': Why Does NATO Chief Mark Rutte Think Europe Can't Defend Itself Without US Support?

(MENAFN- Live Mint) NATO chief Mark Rutte warned on Monday (local time) that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States, in the face of calls for the continent to stand on its own feet after tensions over Greenland, as reported by AFP.

US President Donald Trump roiled the transatlantic alliance by threatening to seize the autonomous Danish territory -- before backing off after talks with Rutte last week.

Also Read | Why is Greenland Trump's 'dreamland'? Is climate change making Arctic desirable?

The diplomatic crisis gave fresh momentum to those advocating for Europe to take a tougher line against Trump and break its military reliance on Washington.

Here's what NATO chief Mark Rutte

“If anyone thinks here again, that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US -- keep on dreaming. You can't,” Rutte told lawmakers at the European Parliament, AFP reported.

He said that EU countries would have to double defence spending from the five percent NATO target agreed last year to 10 percent and spend "billions and billions" on building nuclear arms.

"You would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella," the former Dutch prime minister said.“So hey, good luck.”

(This is a developing story; check later for updates)

(With inputs from AFP)

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