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Former NATO chief Rasmussen: London and Paris should lead efforts to ensure the defense of Europe without the US

According to the former head of the Alliance, Ukraine should be included in the new coalition that will serve as a "firewall for Europe

Apr 25, 2026 18:58 59

Former NATO chief Rasmussen: London and Paris should lead efforts to ensure the defense of Europe without the US  - 1

Great Britain and France should lead efforts to ensure the defense of Europe without the United States. This was stated by the former NATO Secretary General (2009-2014) Anders Fogh Rasmussen in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

According to him, the so-called coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine can be used as a basis, but its scope of responsibility can be expanded to cover the entire Old World.

“Here we still need a coalition of the willing, which would include a new decision-making body“, Rasmussen continued. According to him, this body “should be led by two European nuclear powers – France and The United Kingdom, which is already happening“.

“I continue to consider NATO as the cornerstone of European and North Atlantic security. However, after Donald Trump questioned his commitment to Article 5 on collective defense and to NATO in general, we need to strengthen the European component of the alliance“, Rasmussen said.

According to him, Ukraine should be included in the new coalition, which will serve as a “firewall“ for Europe.