NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended recent announcements by the United States that it would no longer provide certain air and naval assets to European allies in case of a conflict.
"It's only fair, of course, that the Europeans take on a bigger share of the burden when it comes to the defence of Europe," Rutte told journalists on Wednesday.
It is "a bit strange" that Europe is still relying so heavily on a country 8 flight-hours away to defend itself against Russia, he said.
In May, Washington unveiled that it would reduce contributions to the NATO's Force Model, an assets planning tool, as part of a push to increase European defence spending and reduce the continent's reliance on the United States.
"The US stays involved conventionally and, of course, when it comes to the nuclear umbrella," Rutte said, alluding to NATO's nuclear deterrence mechanism under which the US, France and Britain maintain nuclear bombs for other allies.
"But, over time, when it comes to these contributions to the NATO force model, that the Europeans take over a bigger share of the burden is totally right," he said.
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus G. Grynkewich, recently said that "Canada and European Allies can step-up now and in the near term" in the areas of manned and unmanned aircraft and naval vessels.
NATO defence ministers will meet in Brussels on Thursday ahead of the alliance's summit in July in Ankara.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to attend the meeting and reiterate Washington's demand for a more equal burden sharing within the alliance.
