Dutch PM Mark Rutte last year at a Nato summit. 'Nato remains our first line of defence and our guarantee of security, and in my opinion that rules out a European army.' (Photo: NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Rutte warns EU to embrace 'Realpolitik' foreign policy

EU & the World

by Peter Teffer, Brussels,

The European Union should be "less naive and more realistic" about its foreign policy and not be afraid to exercise power, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said in a speech on Wednesday (13 February).

"The EU needs a reality check; power is not a dirty word. Realpolitik must be an essential part of Europe's foreign policy toolkit," he said.

Rutte spoke at the Europe institute of the University of Zurich, in non-EU country Switzerland, where he was giving the annual Churchill Lectur...