Analysis
Rutte’s statement reflects his long-standing position on European defense, as documented in multiple interviews and policy speeches from 2017–2019. The call for a 'European defense union' was part of broader EU discussions post-2016 (e.g., PESCO’s launch in 2017) to reduce reliance on the U.S. while maintaining NATO as a cornerstone. His phrasing—'NATO remains essential *but* Europe must take more responsibility'—matches verbatim quotes from the *De Volkskrant* interview (archived) and Dutch government communications. No credible evidence contradicts this attribution.
Background
The 2016 U.S. election and Brexit accelerated EU debates on strategic autonomy, with leaders like Rutte and Macron pushing for deeper defense integration. The Netherlands, under Rutte, supported PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) and the European Defence Fund, though it emphasized complementarity with NATO. Rutte’s 2018 remarks echoed the EU’s 2016 Global Strategy, which framed NATO and EU defense as 'mutually reinforcing.'
Verdict summary
Mark Rutte did advocate for a European defense union while affirming NATO’s importance in a 2018 *De Volkskrant* interview, aligning with his public stance on EU defense policy at the time.