Rutte: Europe will strengthen its role in NATO

European leaders will come to the fore in NATO, with the United States continuing to have a strong presence, as European allies significantly increase military spending, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Friday.

"In the coming years, we will increasingly see a NATO that is more European-led, but with the US absolutely anchored in the organization," Rutte told reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

"We will do this step by step, in close cooperation with the United States, based on the defense planning process we have," he added.

Tensions were sparked by recent statements by US President Donald Trump about his interest in bringing Greenland, which belongs to Denmark, a NATO member, under US control. Since taking office last January, Trump has also repeatedly pushed other Alliance members to increase their spending, arguing that the US has been
"carrying" the United States.

(reuters, max)