U.S. affirms unwavering allegiance to NATO amidst media claims
The United States Secretary of State, Mark Rubio, has assured the United States' steadfast commitment to NATO. He added that the "hysteria and hyperbole" in the media regarding the alleged U.S. exit from NATO is baseless.
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 emphasises that the media hysteria about the alleged U.S. exit from NATO is unfounded.
- The U.S. expects allies to increase defence spending to enhance NATO's strength and viability.
The United States Secretary of State, Mark Rubio, during a visit to Brussels, firmly dismissed speculation about a potential U.S. exit from NATO. He stressed 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 plans to withdraw from the organisation.
Why does the U.S. want to strengthen NATO?
Rubio explained that the United States aims to bolster NATO by enhancing its allies' defence capabilities. He highlighted that NATO is not merely a group of partners but also comprises wealthy economies that can contribute more towards collective security. "We want NATO to be more viable," said Rubio.
What are the U.S. expectations for its allies?
The United States Secretary of State emphasised that while the United States has its own national needs, defence is the priority due to the U.S.'s global role. Rubio expects NATO partners to also prioritise 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 per se 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.
