Dutch Break Ranks With EU on European Army
THE HAGUE (AFP) -- France and Germany are jumping the gun with calls for a European army, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, asserting that the continent's safety could be guaranteed only through NATO.
"The idea of a European army is going way too far for the Netherlands," Rutte said at his weekly post-cabinet press conference.
"France and Germany are really jumping the gun. As far as the Netherlands is concerned, NATO remains the cornerstone of our defense policy," he told journalists.
French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy last week with his proposal for a "European army" to "protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States".
He said he wanted to reduce Europe's dependence on the U.S. and U.S. weapons for its own security.
Macron's call reflected a desire among several European countries to more autonomously handle their own collective defense, after U.S. President Donald Trump's criticized Europe for what he sees as inadequate contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization defense alliance.
Trump called Macron's idea "very insulting", tweeting that Europe should "first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has seconded Macron's proposal.
During a European parliament session, she emphasized the need for Europe to bolster its self-defense capabilities, and said that a European army could run parallel to NATO.
"Europe must take our fate into our own hands if we want to protect our community," she said.
But Rutte insisted NATO remained the primary guardian of Europe's safety.
"As far as I am concerned, it is an illusion to think that the European Union without NATO can guarantee her safety," Rutte said.
"NATO, and the United States within the organization, remains a crucial partner for peace and security in Europe and we will continue to point that out to our partners in our discussions," he said.
"The idea of a European army is going way too far for the Netherlands," Rutte said at his weekly post-cabinet press conference.
"France and Germany are really jumping the gun. As far as the Netherlands is concerned, NATO remains the cornerstone of our defense policy," he told journalists.
French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy last week with his proposal for a "European army" to "protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States".
He said he wanted to reduce Europe's dependence on the U.S. and U.S. weapons for its own security.
Macron's call reflected a desire among several European countries to more autonomously handle their own collective defense, after U.S. President Donald Trump's criticized Europe for what he sees as inadequate contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization defense alliance.
Trump called Macron's idea "very insulting", tweeting that Europe should "first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has seconded Macron's proposal.
During a European parliament session, she emphasized the need for Europe to bolster its self-defense capabilities, and said that a European army could run parallel to NATO.
"Europe must take our fate into our own hands if we want to protect our community," she said.
But Rutte insisted NATO remained the primary guardian of Europe's safety.
"As far as I am concerned, it is an illusion to think that the European Union without NATO can guarantee her safety," Rutte said.
"NATO, and the United States within the organization, remains a crucial partner for peace and security in Europe and we will continue to point that out to our partners in our discussions," he said.