• Former European Council President Charles Michel says NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acts like an “American agent”
• Michel warns Rutte’s “flattering diplomacy” toward Trump will lead to “total failure” for NATO
• Criticism follows Rutte’s controversial statement that Europe cannot defend itself without U.S. support

BRUSSELS, BE (TDR) — Former European Council President Charles Michel issued a scathing rebuke of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday, accusing him of behaving like an “American agent” and warning that his conciliatory approach to U.S. President Donald Trump risks undermining alliance unity.

In a stark interview with Euronews’ Europe Today, Michel, who led the European Council from 2019 to 2024, said he was “losing confidence” in Rutte’s leadership and demanded the NATO chief stand up to what he characterized as American “intimidation” rather than accommodating Trump’s demands.

“I want to be clear, Mark Rutte is disappointing and I’m losing confidence,” Michel told Euronews. “I’m not expecting Mark Rutte to be an American agent. I’m expecting Mark to work for unity within NATO.”

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

Michel’s sharp criticism comes days after Rutte told European Parliament lawmakers that Europe should “keep on dreaming” if it believes it can defend itself without U.S. military support, statements that drew widespread backlash from European officials who accused the NATO leader of undermining efforts toward greater European strategic autonomy.

“Flattering Diplomacy Will Not Work”

The former EU leader specifically challenged Rutte’s diplomatic strategy toward Trump, arguing that the NATO secretary general’s reputation as a “Trump whisperer” represents a dangerous approach that prioritizes pleasing Washington over defending European interests.

“Rutte’s flattering diplomacy will not work and could lead to total failure,” Michel warned during the Euronews interview.

Rutte has gained notoriety for his effusive praise of Trump, famously referring to the U.S. president as “daddy” during a NATO summit in The Hague last year when discussing the U.S. role in mediating conflicts between Israel and Iran. The comment, which Rutte later attempted to contextualize as metaphorical, was enthusiastically embraced by the White House and became a recurring reference point for Trump.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

Michel criticized this approach as fundamentally misguided at a time when Europe faces what he described as unprecedented American hostility, including Trump’s recent threats to annex Greenland from NATO ally Denmark and impose punitive tariffs on European countries.

“We face intimidation, we face threats. What is going on with Greenland is not acceptable and I expect Mark Rutte to be a strong voice to defend the unity between NATO,” Michel said.

Greenland Crisis Exposes Alliance Tensions

The criticism follows Rutte’s controversial role in brokering what Trump described as a “framework of a future deal” regarding Greenland and Arctic security at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. European diplomats told media outlets that Rutte negotiated the agreement unilaterally, blindsiding EU officials who had sought to present a united front against Trump’s territorial ambitions.

Trump had repeatedly threatened to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, and warned he would impose 10% tariffs on eight European nations unless they supported his demands. After meeting with Rutte in Davos, Trump announced he was dropping the tariff threats, crediting the NATO chief with finding a diplomatic solution.

However, details of the agreement remain murky, and Danish officials have expressed continued concern about what concessions may have been made. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark “cannot negotiate on our sovereignty,” while Greenland’s premier said he had no knowledge of what the deal entailed.

Before traveling to Davos, Rutte sent Trump a flattering text message that the president published on Truth Social, addressing “Mr. President, dear Donald” and praising Trump’s diplomacy in Syria, Gaza and Ukraine. The message concluded: “I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland. Can’t wait to see you. Yours, Mark.”

European Leaders Push Back Against Rutte

Michel is not alone in his criticism of Rutte’s approach to Trump. French officials have been particularly vocal in rejecting the NATO chief’s assertion that Europe cannot achieve strategic autonomy in defense matters.

“No, dear Mark Rutte. Europeans can and must take charge of their own security. Even the United States agrees. It is the European pillar of NATO,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote on social media.

Benjamin Haddad, France’s deputy minister for European affairs, pointed to Europe’s status as the largest donor to Ukraine as evidence that the continent is not weak or dependent on American largesse.

“We have to go much further on defence. We have no other choice. We see a world that is becoming more brutal, more violent,” Haddad told German broadcaster DW. “We see threats coming from American allies against the sovereignty of Denmark.”

French Member of European Parliament Nathalie Loiseau, who attended Rutte’s controversial address to the European Parliament, delivered an even blunter assessment of the NATO leader’s performance.

“It was a disgraceful moment,” Loiseau wrote on social media. “Rutte thinks that being rude to Europeans will please Trump. We don’t need a Trump zealot. NATO needs to rebalance between U.S. and European efforts.”

U.S. Sanctions Fuel European Frustration

Michel also referenced the Trump administration’s recent decision to impose visa sanctions on former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and four European anti-disinformation activists, accusing them of censoring American viewpoints through enforcement of the Digital Services Act.

The sanctions represent an unprecedented escalation in tensions between Washington and Brussels over digital regulation, with European leaders condemning the move as “intimidation” aimed at undermining European sovereignty. French President Emmanuel Macron called the sanctions “unacceptable” and emphasized that Europe’s digital rules are determined by Europeans alone.

“The EU is a very loyal partner to the U.S. and doesn’t deserve Trump’s recent behavior,” Michel said, referencing the Greenland threats, sanctions on EU officials, and what he characterized as Trump’s efforts to give “legitimacy” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the visa restrictions as necessary pushback against what he called the “global censorship-industrial complex,” accusing European regulators of weaponizing digital rules to suppress American companies and viewpoints.

Defense Spending Debate Intensifies

Rutte’s comments to European Parliament came as he pushed European allies to dramatically increase defense spending in response to Trump’s demands. During his address, Rutte argued that Europe would need to spend 10% of GDP on defense to achieve true strategic autonomy, more than double the current 5% target some European leaders have proposed.

“If anyone thinks here that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming. You can’t,” Rutte told lawmakers. “If you really want to go it alone, forget that you can ever get there with 5%. It will be 10%. You have to build up your own nuclear capability. That costs billions and billions of euros.”

The NATO chief emphasized that Europe “would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella” without American participation in the alliance, arguing that transatlantic cooperation remains essential for European security.

At NATO’s summit in The Hague last July, European allies—with the exception of Spain—plus Canada agreed to Trump’s demand that they invest the same percentage of their economic output on defense as the United States within a decade, representing a significant commitment to increased military spending.

Michel Advocates For Ukraine EU Membership

Beyond his criticism of Rutte, Michel also weighed in on Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union by 2027 as part of a broader peace settlement with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated this timeline as a key objective.

“It’s absolutely right, and that’s possible,” Michel said when asked about the 2027 target. He called for accelerating Kyiv’s integration into the EU “as fast as possible” to demonstrate political support for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Michel also supported the positions of French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who have demanded direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of any peace settlement.

“We need to be around the table because today we are not,” Michel said, arguing that European leaders must have a seat at negotiations that will determine Ukraine’s future.

Will NATO survive the growing rift between American interests and European strategic autonomy, or has Rutte’s approach to Trump irreparably damaged transatlantic unity?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from Euronews’ interview with Charles Michel, NPR’s coverage of Rutte’s European Parliament address, ABC News’ reporting on Rutte as “Trump whisperer”, MS NOW’s coverage of the Greenland deal, Euronews’ analysis of European backlash against Rutte, Fortune’s profile of Mark Rutte, The Hill’s coverage of Rutte’s diplomatic approach, CNN’s reporting on Thierry Breton sanctions, CNBC’s coverage of visa bans, and official remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10