NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is pressing European allies to increase defense spending, warning that the continent must do more to strengthen its own security as political uncertainty grows in Washington. His remarks come as allies watch the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House and weigh what that could mean for transatlantic cooperation.

Rutte’s message reflects a familiar concern inside the alliance: European governments remain dependent on U.S. military power for key elements of deterrence, even as pressure mounts for them to share a larger portion of the burden. The debate has intensified as wars and instability continue to reshape security priorities across Europe.

The NATO chief did not frame the issue as a break with the United States, but as a call for allies to prepare for a less predictable strategic environment. For European governments, that means reassessing budgets, military readiness, and long-term defense planning while trying to preserve the core alliance that has anchored security for decades.