'We need a more European NATO': Rasmussen warns US is 'turning its back on Europe'
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François Picard is pleased to welcome former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Warning that the US is in the process of "turning its back on Europe", Rasmussen said that "Europe must take care of its own affairs". The former NATO chief conceded that "without the United States, NATO does not exist." However, he added, "we need a more European NATO; we need to strengthen the European pillar within NATO".
For Rasmussen, the future of European security depends on a structural transformation rather than incremental adaptation. This includes the strengthening of a distinctly European pillar within NATO, the development of autonomous deterrence capabilities, and a reconfiguration of defence production toward speed, scale, and technological relevance.
At the same time, he highlights that the challenge is not only institutional but political and societal. Europe faces a deficit of decisive leadership and a lack of strategic cohesion, which undermines its ability to act in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.
The response must therefore extend beyond military investment to include a broader mobilization of political will and public commitment.
Ultimately, he contends that Europe must transition from a reactive to a proactive strategic actor, one capable of engaging in power politics with clarity, firmness, and autonomy. This requires abandoning illusions of permanence in alliances and embracing a more transactional and self-reliant posture in international affairs.
