Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has dismissed suggestions that the United States will pull out of NATO, saying he does not expect Washington to leave the transatlantic alliance and that he sees no end to US nuclear protection for Europe. He described the American nuclear deterrent as the fundamental guarantor of European security and said he is confident it will continue.
Rutte’s remarks come amid sharp public criticism of NATO by US president Donald Trump, who has suggested he might reconsider American membership and called the alliance ineffective. Any presidential move to withdraw would face a steep legal and political hurdle, however: US withdrawal from NATO would require approval by a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a prospect most observers regard as unlikely.
Rutte said he understands the frustration expressed by Trump toward some NATO partners. After meeting Trump at the White House following a brief US‑Iran ceasefire, Rutte described their conversation as candid and frank but between friends. He noted that Trump has publicly complained that NATO did not come through when demanded, a sentiment Rutte says he can see the point of.
At the same time, Rutte used the White House visit to argue that Europe should shoulder more responsibility within the alliance and explained the clear benefits the US derives from NATO. He welcomed recent increases in defense spending and contributions from European countries and Canada, singling out Germany as an example. Rutte said he believes the alliance will be strengthened as Europe moves from an unhealthy dependency toward a true transatlantic partnership, and that a more capable NATO will make the world safer for everyone.