Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who led NATO from 2009 to 2014, has described the current state of transatlantic relations under US President Donald Trump as “painful” and warned that Europe must urgently build its own defense capabilities independent of Washington. In an interview with Euronews, the former Danish prime minister said the alliance faces its gravest challenge in 77 years.
“I consider this the worst challenge for NATO during the history of a very successful Alliance,” Rasmussen said. “We in Europe should conclude that we have to be able to stand on our own feet.” He called for a “coalition of the willing” to form a strong European defense pillar, emphasizing the need to prioritize European-made weapons over American ones where possible.
Strained Stocks and the Iran Factor
The war in Iran has severely depleted US military stocks, limiting Europe’s ability to replenish its own arsenals and supply Ukraine with interceptors and ammunition. The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to divert weapons already purchased by European countries for use in Ukraine to the Iran theater, further squeezing European defense capacity. This has intensified pressure on NATO allies to ramp up their own production.
Current NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the alliance’s top military commander, Alexus Grynkewich, recently met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to stress the urgency of building a more self-sufficient European defense base, a NATO source confirmed to Euronews.
“We should purchase weapons and ammunition where it is, right now, because time is of the essence, but we should reduce our dependency on foreign actors like the United States,” Rasmussen said. He added that Europe should not be “naive” and under some circumstances would advise “giving preference to European weapons and ammunitions” over American-made or others. Several NATO countries, including France, have long pushed for European-origin defense systems to reduce reliance on the White House as the transatlantic relationship frays.
Greenland Threat and Alliance in Doubt
Rasmussen said the future of NATO was cast into doubt in January when Trump threatened to “take” Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. “It was unheard of that the leader of the biggest ally within a collective defence organisation threatens another ally with the aim to grasp land by force,” he said. “Had that happened, it would be the end of NATO.”
Relations have since soured further after European allies—including the UK, Germany, France, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb—refused to assist Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in resecuring the Strait of Hormuz following strikes against Iran in February. The strait, which carries 20% of the world’s oil, has been closed by Iran and is now under a US blockade. European leaders argued that NATO is a defensive alliance and they were not obliged to join a war of aggression.
Rasmussen said this refusal angered the White House and allowed Trump to claim NATO was not supporting its allies. However, he sees an opportunity for Europe to reset the relationship by offering assistance in exchange for guarantees for Ukraine and a more stable trading relationship without fluctuating tariffs on European goods. “Europe should use this situation as leverage to change the relationship between Europe and the United States,” he said.
For Rasmussen, the shift is deeply personal. Denmark was one of America’s closest allies during the Afghanistan war, with Danish casualties per capita on par with US losses. “Since childhood, I have admired the United States. I saw the United States as a natural leader of the free world,” he said. “It’s been painful to conclude that we have to reduce our dependence on the United States, but that is the state of affairs today.”
The broader context includes ongoing tensions over energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict, as highlighted by the EU energy chief’s warnings. Meanwhile, Trump’s refusal to lift the Strait of Hormuz blockade until Iran agrees to a peace deal continues to strain global trade and European security calculations.
