NATO's New Leader Tries to Let Europe Build Its Own Defense—Without Angering America

NATO's leader Mark Rutte is trying something tricky: he wants European countries to build their own military strength while keeping the U.S. committed to the alliance. He's framing European defense projects as making NATO stronger, not weaker. This matters because America has long worried that if Europe goes its own way militarily, NATO—the security partnership binding North America and Europe—could fall apart. Rutte must convince both sides he's right.