Rubio reinforces U.S. commitment to NATO amidst media hype
The U.S. Secretary of State, Mark Rubio, has assured the United States' unwavering commitment to NATO. He added that the "hysteria and hyperbole" in the media about a potential U.S. exit from NATO is unfounded.
What do you need to know?
- The United States is more active in NATO than ever before, with the goal of strengthening the Alliance.
- Mark Rubio emphasizes that media hysteria around an alleged U.S. exit from NATO is unwarranted.
- The U.S. expects allies to increase defence spending to make NATO stronger and more viable.
During a visit to Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio firmly rejected speculation about a possible U.S. exit from NATO. He emphasized that the U.S. is more committed to the Alliance than ever before. Rubio noted that President Donald Trump clearly supports NATO and has no intention of withdrawing from the organization.
Why does the U.S. want to strengthen NATO?
Rubio explained that the United States aims to strengthen NATO by enhancing the defense capabilities of its allies. He stressed that NATO is not just a group of partners but also includes wealthy economies that can do more for common security. "We want NATO to be more viable," said Rubio.
What are the U.S. expectations for its allies?
The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that while the United States has its own national needs, the priority is defence due to the global role of the U.S. Rubio expects NATO partners to also prioritize defence by increasing their spending for this purpose. "The only way NATO can get stronger and more viable is if our partners, the nation states that comprise this important alliance, have more capability," he added.
During a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Rubio assured that President Trump is not opposed to NATO as such, but expects the Alliance to be capable of fulfilling its commitments.
Rubio also addressed the defence expenditures of Alliance members. "(The) ground war in the heart of Europe is a reminder that hard power is still necessary as a deterrent, and so we do want to leave here with an understanding that we are on a pathway, a realistic pathway to every single one of the members committing and fulfilling a promise to reach up to 5% (of GDP) of spending," said Rubio before his first meeting in the format of NATO foreign ministers at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels.
