Europe is dealing with a major diplomatic dispute after France strongly rejected NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s recent claim that the continent cannot defend itself without the United States. The French government quickly responded to Rutte after he told the European Parliament that Europe could not handle its own defense needs without American support.
According to Politico, Rutte also dismissed the idea of a strong “European pillar” within NATO, calling it “a bit of an empty word.” He pushed back against the concept of a unified European army, which has been gaining support again thanks to people like EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
