Former EU leader criticizes NATO chief for “flattering” Trump, warns of alliance disunity

Former European Council President Charles Michel sharply criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday, accusing him of pursuing a “flattering” diplomatic approach toward U.S. President Donald Trump that risks undermining alliance unity. In an interview with Euronews, Michel said Rutte’s strategy toward Trump “will not work” and could result in “total failure,” urging the NATO chief to stand up to American “intimidation” instead of behaving like an “American agent.”

Call for NATO Unity Amid Tensions

Michel, who led the European Council from 2019 to 2024, expressed disappointment with Rutte’s recent remarks in Brussels, where the NATO chief dismissed the idea of Europe defending itself without the United States. “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. We can’t,” Rutte had stated. Michel countered that Europe is facing “intimidation and threats,” notably referencing Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland in early January, and called on Rutte to defend transatlantic unity more assertively.

Support for Ukraine’s EU Accession

Asked about Ukraine’s aim to join the European Union by 2027 as part of a peace plan, Michel endorsed the timeline, calling it “absolutely right, and that’s possible.” He advocated for accelerating Kyiv’s integration into the bloc “as fast as possible,” reinforcing the EU’s political support for Ukraine amid continued conflict.