NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte asserted on Monday that Europe lacks the capability to defend itself without the military assistance of the United States and would need to significantly increase its current military spending targets to achieve such independence.

"If anyone believes that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the U.S., they are mistaken. It is not possible," Rutte stated to EU lawmakers in Brussels.

He emphasized that Europe and the United States are interdependent. Tensions are escalating within NATO due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats to annex Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.

Trump also announced new tariffs on Greenland’s European supporters but later retracted his threats after a "framework" for an agreement regarding the mineral-rich island was established, with Rutte's assistance. However, few specifics of the agreement have been disclosed.

The military alliance comprising 32 nations is united by a mutual defense provision, specifically Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty established in Washington, which obligates each member state to assist an ally whose territory is facing a threat.