France disagrees with Rutte on the "risks" of creating a European army

Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot objected to the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte who was skeptical of the idea of creating a separate European army from the United States. Barrault convinced he said that Europe should be responsible for its own security.

january 26 in the European Parliament Rutte emphasized that the creation of a separate European army "will complicate the system of collective defense of Europe", which "will appeal to To Putin". In his opinion, there will be "a lot of overlap" in NATO structures and emphasized that Europe and the United States "need each other."

"Europeans can and should take responsibility for their own security. Even the United States agrees. They are NATO's European backbone," the French minister responded.

• on January 19, 2026, Politico wrote that Europe can create its own alliance instead of NATO without US participation, but with Ukraine. It could be created on the basis of a "coalition of the willing."
• Zelensky said that the Ukrainian army could become fundamental contribution into European troops.
• Ukraine's army is the largest and most experienced in Europe, as it has real experience in a full-scale war. It is could become the basis for for the joint forces of Europe after the end of hostilities, Zelenskyy is convinced.