‘Keep on dreaming’: could Europe really defend itself without the US?

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Jennifer Rankin in BrusselsJanuary 31, 2026 at 02:00 PM
‘Keep on dreaming’: could Europe really defend itself without the US?

AI Summary

long article 6 min

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Europe cannot defend itself without the US, sparking debate among European leaders. While Rutte emphasized the need for continued US support and significant increases in European defense spending, some, like France's foreign minister, argued that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security. Spain's foreign minister proposed the creation of a European army, a concept that has been discussed for years but remains vaguely defined. Despite differing opinions on the specifics, there is a general agreement that European NATO members need to increase their defense capabilities and contribute more to the alliance. NATO has pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of national income by 2035.

Keywords

european defense 90% nato 80% us 70% defense spending 60% european army 60% deterrence 50% security 50% mark rutte 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral
Score: -0.10

Source Transparency

Source
The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
Europe

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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