U.S. commitment to NATO remains strong, says Rubio
The United States continues to play an active role within NATO and has no intention of withdrawing from the Alliance, affirmed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a press conference in Brussels. His comments came during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
Rubio emphasized that President Donald Trump is not opposed to NATO itself but rather to an Alliance that lacks the necessary capabilities to function effectively. This statement reflects the administration's ongoing commitment to the defense organization while advocating for increased European contributions.
During his first meeting at NATO headquarters, Rubio reiterated the call for European members to raise their defense spending to 5% of their GDP. "We understand that this requires compromises," he stated, acknowledging domestic challenges but underscoring the priority of defense spending. He stressed the need for NATO to bolster its capabilities to address geopolitical challenges.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also spoke at the meeting, reaffirming that Washington remains a reliable ally within the Alliance. "The United States will not suddenly reduce its presence in Europe; however, as a superpower, they must be engaged on multiple fronts," he noted.
Rutte highlighted that the U.S. expects European nations to match their defense spending commitments. He pointed out that this current period likely represents the most significant increase in defense expenditure since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, while emphasizing that more efforts are still needed.
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