Finland’s Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen has warned that Europe is too weak to defend itself against Russia without U.S. military support, urging Washington to deliver a clear strategy for how any potential withdrawal of American forces from Europe would be managed.
In an interview with Politico following an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Warsaw, Hakkanen said the U.S. and Europe must develop a joint roadmap to prepare for any shift in American military focus toward the Indo-Pacific.
“We need to have some kind of joint plan with the U.S. on a roadmap in case the Americans change the balance in the Pacific area,” Hakkanen said.
He stressed that such planning must ensure there is no opportunity for Russia to exploit any temporary gaps in European defences.
Hakkanen’s call echoes a similar request by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who last month urged U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to create a “roadmap to avoid capability gaps” if American forces are reallocated from Europe to the Pacific.
Pistorius said he has yet to receive a reply from either the White House or the Pentagon.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attending the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, dismissed European concerns as “hysteria.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte attempted to calm tensions, stating that any U.S. military shift would be done “in a very coordinated way.”
Europe Faces Defence Gaps as Trust in U.S. Wavers
The backdrop to this debate is Donald Trump’s foreign policy, which has included threats to reduce support for NATO, warnings about defending allies who “don’t spend enough on defence,” economic pressure on the EU, and even talk of invading Greenland.
Hakkanen acknowledged American concerns about China’s military build-up in the Indo-Pacific but emphasized that any U.S. withdrawal from Europe carries serious risks, particularly for countries near Russia.
“Europe is too weak without U.S. capabilities. It must be supplemented with European capabilities,” said Hakkanen.
Finland’s Strategic Position and NATO Role
Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, joined NATO in 2023, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The country’s defence model relies on nearly a million reservists and a whole-of-society approach to national security.
Hakkanen voiced support for recent EU proposals to ramp up defence spending, including a €150 billion defence loan plan and loosening of tax rules to allow up to €800 billion in military investments by 2030.
He described the plan as “on the right track” and said the U.S. wants to see concrete action from European countries.
