Rutte calls on European allies to establish "NATO 3.0"

BrusselsThe United States promoted NATO after the Second World War to prevent the former Soviet Union from gaining ground and influence in Western Europe. And, under the umbrella of this military understanding, European allies largely neglected their security and outsourced it to Washington. This is the first stage of the Atlantic Alliance, according to sources from the military organization itself.

The second began with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The main reason for the military organization's existence – to defend itself and deter Moscow from an attack – seemed to be disappearing. Russia even took steps towards rapprochement with NATO, and European leaders even questioned the need for the Atlantic Alliance. However, the war in Ukraine and the arrival of Donald Trump have once again marked a before and after.

This Wednesday, the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte, has set the course for what "NATO 3.0" should be, a concept that the Trump administration has been coining for months. The Dutch leader has assured that the objective is for European allies to "take more responsibility for their defense" and has taken for granted Washington's abandonment of European security, as its main interest is no longer to prevent Russian expansionism. "This would allow our by far largest ally, the United States, which has to face multiple scenarios, to reorient itself more, for example, towards Asia," said Rutte.

Besides the NATO Secretary General, an informal group of Eastern and Northern European allies have also embraced the concept of NATO 3.0 and committed in a joint statement to make it a reality. How? By increasing their military capabilities and defense spending in the coming years, at least up to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), as Trump demands.

It remains to be seen, however, whether an increase in the money that European states allocate to security will end up translating into greater influence within the military organization –as European leaders demand– or if this NATO 3.0 will also be under the almost absolute control of the White House tenant.