Tuesday, January 27, 2026

NATO Without the U.S.: 'Good Luck'

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte insisted Monday that Europe is incapable of defending itself without U.S. military support ...

Posted by boaz at 02:32 PM | 44 COMMENTS | permalink

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France has snapped back at NATO chief Mark Rutte in a feud over Europe's defense muscle. ðŸ"-- www.politico.eu/article/fran ...

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-- POLITICO Europe (@politico.eu) Jan 27, 2026 at 4:51 AM

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"NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte insisted Monday that Europe is incapable of defending itself without U.S. military support and would have to more than double current military spending targets to be able to do so"

Something of a contradiction there.

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-27 08:52 AM


Muriel Domenach, France's former ambassador to NATO, posted on X that "with all due respect to the NATO Secretary General, this is not: the right question ... the right answer: brandishing European weakness to secure the U.S. guarantee is an outdated approach and sends the wrong message to Russia."

Without mentioning Rutte specifically, French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin told French radio that "what we see today is the necessity of NATO's European pillar." The idea of making Europeans collectively stronger within the military alliance, first pitched by France a few years ago, is now endorsed by other countries including Germany.

MEP Nathalie Loiseau, a former French minister who now sits in the committee where Rutte made the controversial remarks, echoed Barrot's criticism: "It was a disgraceful moment. Rutte thinks that being rude with Europeans will please Trump. We don't need a Trump zealot. NATO needs to rebalance between US and European efforts."

#2 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-01-27 09:07 AM

Every coin has two sides. While it's good that Europe is moving towards taking a stronger role for its own security, this could potentially come back to haunt American in a few decades...

#3 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-01-27 09:09 AM

*America

Damn typoes.

#4 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-01-27 09:09 AM

Defend itself against who?

Who is the threat they are talking about?

Russia that can't even take over non-NATO Ukraine?

Maybe Serbia is going to rise up with its 150 man army?

The super power Algeria?

China is the only country with a comparable military but they are on the other side of the world and more intent on keep things stable to continue trading. They won't even invade Asian or African countries anymore.

The only other threat is the US itself...which if it decides to invade, NATO is meaningless anyway.

#5 | Posted by Sycophant at 2026-01-27 10:40 AM

" China is the only country with a comparable military but they are on the other side of the world and more intent on keep things stable to continue trading"

China seeks a global hegemony. If the US were to pull out of NATO (which would be a colossal mistake) China might feel emboldened to seize territory.

#6 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-27 11:45 AM

The Russian Federation has a pipeline of slave soldiers from the "global south" to use in their war of attrition against the rest of Europe. They keep them in line by "snow boarding" them. If you haven't seen the pictures, involves stripping them down, tying them upside down to a post in the cold winter, and forcing snow into their noses and mouths. It works to deter Russian defectors as well.

#7 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-01-27 12:29 PM

" China is the only country with a comparable military but they are on the other side of the world and more intent on keep things stable to continue trading"
China seeks a global hegemony. If the US were to pull out of NATO (which would be a colossal mistake) China might feel emboldened to seize territory.

#6 | Posted by BellRinger

Yes, Jeff. Global Hegemony with all those countries they've invaded in the last 40 years...like...umm.... hmmm...

They are territories all over the WORLD China could seize. Especially in Africa. It hasn't.

It builds a hospital. Opens trade. And leaves.

China's basic diplomacy is "Keep the status quo and keep trade moving."

#9 | Posted by Sycophant at 2026-01-27 04:59 PM

More hubris.

#11 | Posted by fresno500 at 2026-01-27 05:23 PM

NATO is incapable of defending itself from itself, the US?

The US are viewed as the bad guys now by NATO former allies

#12 | Posted by hamburglar at 2026-01-27 06:12 PM

China seeks a global hegemony. If the US were to pull out of NATO (which would be a colossal mistake) China might feel emboldened to seize territory.

#6 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-27 11:45 AM | Reply | Flag:

Realize the irony here.

The place they can seize value territory the easiest is Russia.

#14 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2026-01-27 08:41 PM

It's a 2,600 mile border.

#15 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2026-01-27 08:42 PM

Bo@ss without the Klan... GOOD LUCK

#17 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-27 09:53 PM

Ballwasher the ignorant --------, Bo@ss the ignorant backwoods ------- dumbass, and SSentinel, the idiot Nazi ---------- are going to explain the international order to us.

Ah, ---- all y'all.

#18 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-27 09:55 PM

re: Sitzkrieg

What resources does Russia have that China might consider invasion-worthy?

#19 | Posted by hamburglar at 2026-01-28 06:34 AM

What good is MAD, mutually assured destruction, without being able to drop a few nuclear bombs on one's enemy? Goodby Moscow, it was nice to know you and your pretend democracy....is that what the future holds for our "civilization"?

#20 | Posted by Hughmass at 2026-01-28 08:22 AM

#19

Oil

#21 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2026-01-28 11:46 AM

"NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte insisted Monday that Europe is incapable of defending itself without U.S. military support and would have to more than double current military spending targets to be able to do so"

Something of a contradiction there.

#1 | Posted by Zed

I am going to cautiously say he is right with a major "but" - not totally incapable. Europe is waking up. They are expanding military production capabilities. They do have many weapons superior to the US already and they are quickly developing new ones. They are building manufacturing capabilities. They are working with Ukraine like the US but maybe even more so. It will take time but I believe the EU WILL become an equal. They WILL proliferate nuclear war heads throughout the region. They will build their own ICBMs and the like and everything will be new and the latest tech. Not 1960s and 1970s tech. Where Europe lags and likely will remain lagging is power projection capabilities.

The true defining difference that will remain IMHO is that the US is a militarized society.

#22 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2026-01-28 01:30 PM

They do have many weapons superior to the US already

No they dont. Where do you get this B.S. from? LOL

NATO would fall apart without the U.S.

#23 | Posted by boaz at 2026-01-28 01:41 PM

European nations have used their tax revenues to take care of their citizens.

The United States of America has used its taxes to fund billionaires and the military industrial complex.

Why dos America worship billionaires and death?

It's insane.

#24 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-01-28 01:53 PM

NATO would fall apart without the U.S.

#23 | Posted by boaz

Notice Boaz can't explain how they would fall apart?

NATO would basically just be the EU without the US. And the EU would be fine.

#25 | Posted by Sycophant at 2026-01-28 02:21 PM

Without America NATO is like a car without a windshield.

Without Europe its like a car without headlines.

#26 | Posted by Tor at 2026-01-28 02:22 PM

Notice Boaz can't explain how they would fall apart?

Their reach wouldnt be as far. They wouldnt be able to hold engagements or fights as long.

#27 | Posted by boaz at 2026-01-28 02:28 PM

NATO would fall apart without the U.S.
#23 | Posted by boaz

Why do you want NATO to fall apart, is the thing we can't understand.
You don't think NATO represents Jack Nicholson's character guarding that Wall, in A Few Good Men?

#28 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-28 02:33 PM

NATO would fall apart without the U.S.

#23 | Posted by boaz

I agree. We're already seeing Ukraine losing ground to Russia without proper support from the US. Without NATO, there isn't much to stop a Chinese supported Russia pushing further into Western Europe. So why do you seem to actively hope that Trump pulls us out of NATO?

#29 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2026-01-28 03:33 PM

Boaz was elated when Russia invaded the Ukraine.

He was boasting about what a "Savvy Genius" Putin was.

Fact is, Boaz hates America.

#30 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-01-28 04:13 PM

So why do you seem to actively hope that Trump pulls us out of NATO?

I dont want us to come out of NATO. I want us out of the U.N.

I actually like NATO. I got to command a unit in NATO in combat. I hold a few NATO medals I've been awarded.

It's not NATO I dislike, it's the U.N.

#31 | Posted by boaz at 2026-01-28 04:29 PM

The United States created the UN to advance US foreign policy.

Why is that bad?

#32 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-28 05:04 PM

The U.N. was created because the league of nations failed.

#33 | Posted by boaz at 2026-01-28 05:33 PM

#31

Perhaps for different reasons, but I don't care much for the UN as it is either.

So what was the point of this post?

#34 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2026-01-28 05:38 PM

Boaz is working on convicting himself that MAGA is right, those NATO soldiers he commanded in Afghanistan were losers and mooches, and we should leave NATO.

That's what this thread is for.

#35 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-28 05:41 PM

He commanded a drawer full of paper clips

#36 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-28 05:46 PM

The place they can seize value territory the easiest is Russia.
#14 | Posted by sitzkrieg

I dunno. China seizing territory doesn't sound like a thing China is particularly apt to do.
Offer not valid in Taiwan, since that's part of China more or less according to both sides.

#37 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-28 05:49 PM

China seizing territory (Russia) doesn't sound like a thing China is particularly apt to do.
- snoofy

We are doing it now, that's how sneaky us Asians are. Pay attention

#38 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-01-28 06:00 PM

#38

Confucius say; China Boy who donate DNA to Security Services not know Jack about freedom and democracy... as much as he likes to pretend he does.

#39 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-28 06:26 PM

@#1 ... Something of a contradiction there. ...

You noticed that also?

Europe looks to be stepping up, now that Pres Trump seems to be quite focused upon handing parts of Europe over to Pres Putin by destroying NATO.

And I will say once again ...

The only time NATO's article 5 (~an attack on one is an attack on all~) has been invoked occurred when NYC's World Trade Center was attacked.

And now, Pres Trump wants to abandon that alliance?




#40 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-28 08:08 PM

PEDO DONNIE sucks Putin's ass

#41 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-28 09:26 PM

Their reach wouldnt be as far. They wouldnt be able to hold engagements or fights as long.

#27 | Posted by boaz

Again...against who?

The only time they've had to hold engagements is when the US decided to invade and nation build.

#42 | Posted by Sycophant at 2026-01-29 10:56 AM

Again...against who?

Anyone.

There may not be a specific threat now, but Russia is and not as much, but China is one.

#43 | Posted by boaz at 2026-01-29 11:13 AM

but China is one.

#43 | POSTED BY BOAZ

Will you ever stop being a dumbass?

Currently.. WE are the threat.

I'll believe China is a threat when they attack Taiwan and kidnap its president, Lai Ching-te.

#44 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-01-29 12:26 PM

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