Ursula von der Leyen pushed back on NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s claim that Europe cannot guarantee its own security without the United States, calling the situation more nuanced and urging EU nations to activate their mutual defence obligations under Article 42.7.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, she highlighted that European defence spending has risen nearly 80% since Russia invaded Ukraine, but stressed that true security requires trust, capability, and faster decision-making.

Von der Leyen called for formalizing ad hoc security collaborations with partners like the UK, Norway, Iceland, and Canada, and emphasized that Europe must strengthen its independence in defence, energy, and technology.

She also asserted the EU’s commitment to digital sovereignty, warning that the bloc will not yield to external pressure, Euro News has reported.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed her message, noting that Europe must urgently strengthen its defence and seize the moment presented by the Ukraine war.