Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen recently argued that Europe must achieve stronger military self-sufficiency. While maintaining that NATO remains the bedrock of European security, he emphasized that the alliance itself needs to evolve, calling for what he terms an “European NATO”.

Rasmussen acknowledged that in the short term, Europe will remain dependent on the United States. However, he stressed that the long-term goal must be for the continent to become capable of independent action. To achieve this, Europe must build the capacity to produce its own weapons and ammunition, eliminating reliance on American supplies.

He viewed the potential reduction of the U.S. military presence in Europe not as a threat, but as a significant opportunity-one Europe should embrace to strengthen its own capabilities.