NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte triggered sharp criticism from European lawmakers this week after telling the European Parliament that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States. Rutte made the comments during a debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday, saying, “If anyone thinks … Europe can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. We need each other.”The statement prompted immediate backlash from European officials who said Rutte’s comments dismissed recent efforts to strengthen the continent’s defense capabilities. “Saying half of NATO is useless gives Trump the green light to extort more from NATO allies,” Walsh told Euronews. Camille Grand, a former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment, said Europe had made significant progress.