Mark Rutte warns NATO on 3 Joint Force Commands shift
mark rutte warned that NATO needs to move away from an unhealthy over-reliance on the United States, saying the alliance must shift toward a fairer sharing of responsibility for collective security. He said Europe and Canada are already stepping up, while NATO’s command structure is being adjusted ahead of a meeting in Sweden.
Rutte on NATO's balance
Rutte said NATO will always be a transatlantic alliance, but he argued that security in Europe has fundamentally changed and is now more dangerous and more contested. He said Russia remains the most direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security and continues to wage a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.
He also said allies face persistent and growing attempts to undermine security and stability, including cyber-attacks, sabotage, and threats to critical infrastructure. The warning landed as reports indicated the Trump administration is going to reduce the pool of military assets available to NATO countries during a crisis or conflict, while President Donald Trump expects European countries to take over primary responsibility for the continent's security from the United States.
Europe and Canada step up
Rutte said Europe and Canada are investing more money and taking on greater responsibility for conventional defence. He described that shift as part of a broader move toward a stronger Europe within NATO, with the United States also adapting.
He said, "Moving away from unhealthy over-reliance on one Ally to a fairer sharing of the responsibility for our collective security," and added, "We will continue to see this transformation to a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO: NATO 3.0. A stronger NATO, with a healthier, more sustainable division of responsibilities to deliver the security we all need."
NATO Command Structure changes
Rutte said the change will also show up inside NATO’s Command Structure. "We see this not only as the US adjusts its force posture in Europe. But in the new distribution of leadership roles for example in NATO’s Command Structure – where Europe will lead all three Joint Force Commands, while the US will lead the three component commands," he said.
That arrangement gives Europe lead responsibility for three Joint Force Commands and leaves the three component commands to the United States. The practical question for NATO now is how quickly allies translate that division into planning, spending, and command decisions before the Sweden meeting where Rutte set out the warning.
