Former UK Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace has warned that Britain and its European allies must be ready to take control of NATO if US President Donald Trump follows through on threats to withdraw American support.
Wallace stressed that Europe must be prepared to replace US military aid to Ukraine and ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin does not win the ongoing conflict.
Speaking on Saturday, Wallace issued a stark message about the shifting geopolitical landscape. “We are witnessing a new era where we cannot take for granted US security guarantees,” he stated. He accused Trump of attempting to “bully” Ukraine while “suffocating” its hopes of defeating Russia.
Wallace, who served as Defence Secretary under Conservative governments, expressed concern that Trump’s stance could embolden Putin. “We aren’t going to let Putin win,” he said.
“The Americans can do what they want, but what Trump may discover… is that the Ukrainians are tough people. Putin is not going to stop, and President Trump is naive to think so.”
Sir Ben Wallace
According to Wallace, Trump’s approach signals to Moscow that “I will bully Ukraine and give hope to Russia.” He emphasized that such a stance sends “the totally wrong message” if the goal is to deter Russia and force Putin to negotiate. “Donald Trump is suffocating the hope that Putin can be fought to a standstill and brought to the table,” Wallace added.
He argued that Ukraine still has a path to victory, but only if European nations step up to replace lost American support. He estimated that if Ukraine holds out for another 18 months, “the Russian economy will collapse.”
Europe’s Defense Must Evolve
Wallace also warned that Britain and its European partners need to prepare for the possibility that the US could follow through on threats made by Vice President JD Vance and other officials to leave NATO entirely.
While acknowledging that such a move would present serious challenges, Wallace insisted that Europe could maintain its security without US backing — but only with a significant increase in defense spending.
“It’s not the end of the world if they pull out of NATO. We have the will in Europe and the money, if we choose to, to fix our own security and defense.”
Sir Ben Wallace
Wallace stressed that European nations must decide whether they are truly committed to securing Ukraine and reducing their reliance on the US. “It’s a question of resolve,” he explained. “Do we want to do this, see through the defense of Ukraine, and make sure we are less reliant on a less dependable US by investing in our own capabilities?”
He argued that European nations do have the resources to fill the gap if Washington pulls back, but only if they are willing to commit to greater defense investments.
“We have the capability, if we have to, to replace that. It’s not like if they pull out we have no options at all — if we believe in ourselves and are prepared to put our hands in our pocket.”
Sir Ben Wallace
Wallace’s comments come amid heightened tensions over NATO’s future and growing uncertainty surrounding Trump’s potential foreign policy decisions as he returns to the White House. European leaders are increasingly considering contingency plans to ensure that NATO remains a strong force in global security, even in the absence of US support.
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