Rutte Responds On Whether Trump Will Pull The U.S. Out Of NATO

• 18.04.2026, 18:00

The Secretary General emphasized that the Alliance needs a stronger Europe.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte considers the US withdrawal from the Alliance unlikely, but emphasizes the need to strengthen it.

He said this in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.

The statement came amid regular criticism from US President Donald Trump, who expresses dissatisfaction with the actions of allies in the bloc. Rutte said he sees no preconditions for Washington's withdrawal from NATO, although he understands the American leader's disappointment with the position of individual member states.

Gensec emphasized that the Alliance needs "a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO." He called for building up defense capabilities and investing more actively in the defense industry, noting that this is important for ensuring security and deterring threats.

Rutte also noted the key role of the United States in Europe's security system, stressing that the U.S. nuclear umbrella remains the main guarantor of the continent's protection. He added that French and British nuclear forces also contribute to the overall deterrence system.

He said nuclear deterrence remains an important element of NATO's collective defense, along with conventional weapons, missile defense, and space and cyber capabilities.