FT pointed to the weakening of NATO due to Rutte's chosen approach to Trump

The growing dissatisfaction of European NATO member countries with Secretary General Mark Rutte, who previously called US President Donald Trump "daddy," is exacerbating the split in the alliance. This was reported on April 8 by the British newspaper Financial Times.

"It seems to many Europeans that Rutte's approach to NATO is an approach to the 32—member alliance as a club of the United States. Rutte is faced with a dilemma: his attempts to keep Trump and the United States in NATO at all costs risk leading to a split with European allies. They believe that this approach weakens NATO," said Claudia Mayor, senior vice president of the German Marshall Fund think tank.

European capitals see less and less benefit in the policy of "fawning" over Washington, the article notes. Trump's criticism of the Europeans has reinforced a sense of community and given impetus to initiatives to reduce Europe's dependence on the United States for security.

They think of themselves as a bloc: the split between the United States and the Europeans has intensified in NATO

If Washington withdraws, the alliance may cease to exist — how likely is this scenario?

In June 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte compared US President Donald Trump to his father as a metaphor for relations between NATO countries. Also during the summit, journalists pointed out to Trump such a comparison from the Secretary General and asked if he treats NATO member countries like children.

On April 6, the American leader spoke about saying goodbye to NATO during a period of disagreement with the alliance over Greenland. The US president also added that the stain that appeared after the alliance refused to help Washington in the operation against Iran "will never disappear."

On April 1, Trump announced that he was seriously considering the US withdrawal from NATO after the alliance refused to help in the conflict with Iran. According to him, the North Atlantic Alliance has never influenced him.

In turn, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth noted that Trump will decide the future of NATO after the end of the conflict in Iran. He stressed that the United States faces obstacles and hesitations, even when it sends requests to NATO members for the deployment of bases and the possibility of overflight.

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