Finnish President Alexander Stubb sparked controversy at the 2026 World Economic Forum during a panel, asserting Europe's self-reliance amid U.S. tensions over Greenland and ongoing concerns over Russia.
"Can Europe defend itself? My answer is unequivocally yes... without the Americans," Stubb declared, emphasizing NATO's evolution into a more independent "NATO 3.0."
Just 11 minutes later, when a journalist pressed, "You said earlier that Europe can defend itself without the Americans...," Stubb backtracked: "Not exactly. That's not a quote."
The exchange underscored transatlantic strains as NATO grapples with potential U.S. withdrawal from security commitments. This comes against a backdrop of escalating Russian threats.
"If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them," said U.S. President Donald Trump in March 2025. "No, I'm not going to defend them."
As the Ukraine war drags into its fifth year, with Russian forces advancing slowly despite heavy losses, experts warn of heightened hybrid warfare risks, including cyberattacks and sabotage across Europe.
"Without us, most of the countries don’t even work," said Trump at the 2026 meeting of the World Economic Forum.