US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: US will remain in NATO

Contrary to concerns about a possible US withdrawal from NATO, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US remains loyal to NATO.

The start of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers was overshadowed by Washington's tariffs on goods from Europe and elsewhere on Wednesday. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel spoke of a "moment of truth" that would show whether the US still wanted to do business with Europe. In this context, the acting German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock (Greens), also made clear the importance of economic security for defense capabilities. Economic security is "part of our overall security," she stressed in Brussels.

In recent months, Trump has repeatedly questioned NATO's mutual defense clause and demanded that NATO partners increase their defense budgets to five percent of their respective GDP. Statements from Washington have fueled fears among NATO diplomats in Brussels that the United States could at least partially withdraw from NATO.

Unjustified hysteria

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the United States is committed to NATO. That has not changed, Rubio said in Brussels ahead of a two-day meeting with department heads from the 32 member countries that began Thursday.

US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he supports NATO. "We will remain in NATO," Rubio said in Brussels on Thursday. According to Rubio, the United States is also "more active than ever" in NATO. "The hysteria and exaggeration" that you have seen in the international media and in some US media on this issue is unjustified. "But we want NATO to be stronger."

At the same time, he stressed that NATO must strengthen its capabilities to prepare for existing threats. To this end, he considers defense spending at five percent of gross domestic product appropriate. Rubio acknowledged that the US has not yet reached this target.

The only way to do this is "for our partners (...) to have more capabilities," Rubio said. "We want NATO to be stronger. We want NATO to be more efficient. And the only way for NATO to be stronger and more effective is for our partners (...) to have more capabilities," Rubio said.

Investments in national security may not be popular

Rubio said he understands that, after decades of building comprehensive social security systems, it may be unpopular to deviate from them and invest more in national security. But the events of recent years, including the current war in the heart of Europe, are a reminder that a strong power remains necessary as a deterrent.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has dismissed fears of a rapid withdrawal of US troops from Europe. There are no plans for that, he said in Brussels. He continues to consider the US a reliable partner.

Other topics at the two-day meeting in Brussels are related to the situation in Ukraine and the ceasefire negotiations that Washington is currently conducting with Moscow and Kiev. In addition to NATO members, the meeting is also attended by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybikha and representatives of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand./ DW (A2 Televizion)