French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noel Barrot countered NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s claim that Europe cannot defend itself without U.S. support, insisting that Europe can and must take responsibility for its own security. Rutte warned Brussels that a European defence alliance without the United States would cost about 10% of GDP and would mean losing the American nuclear umbrella. Barrot replied that Europe has a NATO pillar and that the United States itself agrees with taking on this role.
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