The US is turning away from Europe. Anders Fogh Rasmussen: we are experiencing the collapse of NATO

“A common European army is not realistic for now”

The European Union is looking for ways to organize the defense of its members without the participation of the US. This month it is conducting war exercises involving the mutual aid clause. Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty obliges Member States to provide assistance to the attacked partner. However, it is not known how this clause would be implemented in practice. Is it good that the EU is exploring this path?

It is good that the EU is strengthening its defense dimension. Problem with art. 42.7 is that there is no real military power behind it. Now the EU is discussing at length how to launch it if necessary. We can't wait for this. Another weakness of the EU is that it includes neutral countries, such as Austria and Ireland, as well as hesitant members who do not do what is necessary.

A common European army is not realistic for now. Neither the EU nor NATO is currently ready to strengthen the European pillar of the alliance. That's why I propose a new solution: a coalition of the willing. It should be created only by a group of countries ready and able to effectively defend Europe.

What would this look like in practice?

NATO countries that meet the 5% defense spending target should participate. GDP, undertake to guarantee security in line with Art. 5 and prevent individual countries from blocking military actions. It should also be possible to exclude members who do not meet these conditions.

It sounds as if a separate NATO was to be created, existing in parallel. Isn't this a surprising request from a former NATO Secretary General?

Yes, but we are dealing with a unique situation. Please note: I still believe that NATO will be the foundation of our defense, and the ultimate guarantee of security is the American nuclear umbrella. But we, as Europeans, should provide conventional defense ourselves. This also includes the inclusion of Ukraine as an integral part of the new European security architecture.

Would Ukraine be a member of the alliance you propose?

Correct. Previously, we believed that Ukraine was only a security recipient and needed our help. This is true, but we also see how quickly Ukraine is developing new weapons and ammunition. We need it as a barrier against Russia.

“I share the Chancellor's vision to make Germany the strongest conventional armed forces in Europe.”

Are you talking about your idea with politicians? Do you see anyone who could initiate a new defense coalition?

Yes, I have many conversations. For now, I have not received a specific declaration. But someone has to take up this issue.

Could that someone be Friedrich Merz?

I would be very happy if Chancellor Merz, together with President Macron, Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Meloni, moved in this direction.

You are currently in Berlin. Do you see the leadership that many allies now expect from Germany?

I'm here to talk about the need for a much stronger German role in security matters. For a long time, Germany dominated economically. Now we need more strategic and military leadership.

What would that look like?

Now it is about using these new capabilities with the necessary political will for Europe and carrying out overdue reforms. Much faster implementation of these activities is necessary.

How long do you think is realistic for Europe to be able to provide its own conventional defense?

I think it's real. In the short term, we will still be dependent on the US in some areas. But we can do more than we often think. In Ukraine, more people are currently dying from drones than from artillery. If we invest in relatively cheap drones and modern technologies, we can acquire the necessary capabilities faster than before.

However, military procurement processes take a very long time.

We need a completely new approach. Our economies must be put into war mode. There is too much peaceful thinking. We need to simplify bureaucracy, modernize processes and tender rules – to shorten delivery and turnaround times.

“We need to change our strategic thinking”

You have always been a supporter of transatlantic cooperation, you supported the US when other allies were more restrained – for example during the war in Iraq. And now you are calling for Europe to be defended largely without the participation of Americans. How do you feel about this?

It's very painful. Since I was a child, I have admired the United States and viewed it as the natural leader of the free world. As Prime Minister of Denmark, I worked closely with then US President George W. Bush, and as Secretary General of NATO with President Obama. Regardless of party affiliation, they believed in the U.S. global leadership role.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO, and Barack Obama, President of the USA, at NATO headquarters. Brussels, 26 March 2014EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ / PAP