Rutte Thinks He Is Threading the Needle, But He Is Sleepwalking NATO to Its Doom
- john raymond
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Mark Rutte, newly installed as NATO Secretary-General, has taken the reins at a moment of profound instability. And in the wake of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under Donald Trump’s second presidency, Rutte has chosen a dangerous course: affirming NATO unity while turning a blind eye to blatant illegality. It is a maneuver he likely believes is prudent statesmanship, a threading of the needle. But in truth, it is a self-defeating capitulation. He is sleepwalking NATO to its doom.
The foundational strength of the NATO alliance lies not just in its collective defense posture, but in its shared commitment to the rule of law and democratic governance. By publicly supporting Trump in the wake of these strikes—strikes that were not authorized by Congress, not coordinated with allies, and which have already triggered global instability—Rutte undermines both.
His logic, presumably, is that the alliance must appear united in the face of Russian aggression, and that any daylight between NATO and the United States would embolden Putin. But the opposite is now true. The very fact that Trump acts without democratic legitimacy, while pursuing policies that materially benefit Russia—from undermining Iran diplomacy to fracturing alliance unity—demands clear lines, not gray compromise. If NATO cannot defend its own charter from internal threats, it has no credibility to stand against external ones.
Worse still, by normalizing Trump’s unlawful belligerence, Rutte weakens the ability of European leaders to hold any member to account. The alliance becomes a hostage to its most reckless actor. NATO, meant to be a shield against authoritarian power, becomes a vessel for its projection.
Rutte’s error is not in desiring unity, but in misunderstanding its source. True unity does not come from appeasing a rogue actor. It comes from enforcing shared norms, even when uncomfortable. Especially when uncomfortable.
History will remember who legitimized Trump’s descent into imperial aggression. Rutte, with all the weight of NATO behind him, has chosen caution over conscience. He may believe he is threading the needle. But the fabric he is sewing is one soaked in gasoline—and the match has already been lit.
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