In a rare criticism from a senior German minister since the recent thaw in transatlantic ties, he said "coalitions of the willing," such as that created by Washington for the invasion of Iraq, were "damaging" for NATO.

Struck said the coalitions could endanger the military alliance's principle of consensus decision-making.

In a speech at a security and defence conference, the minister said Europe and the United States should work together on strategies against conflicts in the Middle East and North Korea.

Germany was one of the fiercest critics of the US-led war against Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein earlier this year.

Its opposition hurt German-US relations, but with the war over it was time for Europe and the United States to renew their partnership, Struck said.

He said it was questionable whether the invasion had been legitimate under international law.

In another swipe at Washington, he said it was "politically clever" to act multilaterally in tune with partners. "That would also be the best option for the superpower USA."

Ad-hoc relationships could not replace a firm alliance, but a NATO reduced to the role of military "toolbox" for "the implementation of decisions made in Washington" was not viable in the long run either.

Multilateralism was not "an onerous side-job," Struck said.

He accepted the deadly September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States had changed US thinking to an extent that was still underestimated in Europe, and urged non-US NATO states to plug gaps in their military capabilities to match the alliance's dominant partner.

"That is important in order also to restrain the attempts by our US partner to resort to coalitions of the willing that ultimately are damaging to NATO."

Struck said even US military muscle had its limits and could not on its own fulfil the task of rebuilding Iraq or Afghanistan.

WAR.WIRE