Europe must urgently strengthen its defence capabilities and take on a bigger role within NATO after US President Donald Trump “shook the transatlantic relationship to its foundation,” the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a defence conference in Brussels, Kallas said Europe could no longer rely primarily on Washington for its security, stressing that the continent must adapt to what she described as a structural shift in US foreign policy.
“Let me be clear: we want strong transatlantic ties. The US will remain Europe’s partner and ally. But Europe needs to adapt to the new realities. Europe is no longer Washington’s primary centre of gravity,” Kallas said.
She warned that the shift was not temporary but long-term, adding that Europe had to take responsibility for its own survival.
“No great power in history has outsourced its survival and survived,” she said.
Trump rattled European allies earlier this month after threatening to seize Greenland from Denmark, a NATO and EU member, before eventually backing down. The episode marked the latest strain on transatlantic ties since his return to power a year ago and has renewed calls for Europe to reduce its decades-long dependence on the United States for defence.
Despite this, Kallas said NATO remained the foundation of Europe’s security architecture, noting that EU defence efforts must complement not replace the alliance.
“Especially now, as the US is setting its sights beyond Europe, NATO needs to become more European to maintain its strength,” she said. “For this, Europe must act.”
European nations have increased defence spending since Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago and last year agreed to significantly raise NATO’s spending targets under pressure from Trump. The EU has also launched initiatives it says could mobilise up to €800 billion in additional defence investment.
Washington, meanwhile, has pushed European allies to take more responsibility for the continent’s conventional defence as the US shifts focus toward other global threats, including China.
“The risk of a full-blown return to coercive power politics, spheres of influence and a world where might makes right is very real,” Kallas said, urging European leaders to act with urgency.
Her remarks follow comments by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who told EU lawmakers this week that Europe could not defend itself without the United States. Rutte said the continent would need to double defence spending to replace the US nuclear umbrella, warning that attempts to sideline Washington would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Putin will love it. So think again,” Rutte said, urging the EU to focus instead on funding and regulatory reforms to strengthen its defence industry.
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