Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen issued a stark warning that the Atlantic alliance faces potential "disintegration" unless European members create an independent defense structure capable of operating without American leadership.
In an interview with Politico, Rasmussen—who led NATO from 2009 to 2014—said the alliance's future cannot depend on assumptions about continued American commitment, particularly given shifting political winds in Washington and growing isolationist sentiment among segments of the American public.
"We must face an uncomfortable truth," Rasmussen said. "NATO has been the cornerstone of European security for 75 years, but that foundation is cracking. Europeans need their own pillar within the alliance that can stand on its own if necessary."
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. Calls for greater European defense autonomy are not new—French President Charles de Gaulle pursued such independence in the 1960s, leading France to withdraw from NATO's integrated military command. What makes Rasmussen's warning significant is the messenger: a former Secretary General publicly stating that the organization he once led may not survive in its current form.
The comments reflect growing anxiety in European capitals about American reliability. Successive US administrations have pressured European allies to increase defense spending, with varying degrees of diplomatic grace. More recently, American threats to withdraw from NATO entirely or to refuse to honor Article 5 collective defense commitments have shaken confidence in transatlantic solidarity.
Current frictions over base access rights amplify these concerns. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week criticized NATO allies for refusing American forces unrestricted use of military installations, calling such restrictions suggested that European pushback reflects deeper questions about American command prerogatives that need to be addressed.
