Brussels : NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted commitment to NATO unity and objectives in remarks on the sidelines of the organisation’s Foreign Minister meeting today.
Rutte expressed confidence in the transatlantic alliance despite recent tensions. “The Americans have stated again and again: ‘We are committed to NATO. We are committed to Article 5,’” he said, referencing the alliance’s collective defence clause. He also highlighted the significant increase in European defence budgets, calling it “the biggest surge in defence spending since the Cold War,” but stressed that more must be done.
Rubio echoed this sentiment, dismissing concerns about US disengagement from NATO. “The United States is in NATO. We are as active in NATO as ever,” he said, criticising what he described as “hysteria and hyperbole” in the media about America’s commitment. He reiterated President Trump’s support for the alliance but emphasised that NATO must strengthen its capabilities. “The only way NATO can get stronger and more viable is if our partners have more capability,” Rubio said.
Both officials addressed the interconnected nature of global threats, pointing to challenges posed by Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Rutte warned that these threats are increasingly intertwined across regions. “We are seeing how these theatres—the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic—are getting more connected,” he said.
Rubio called for a clear pathway for allies to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP, acknowledging that this would take time but insisting it was necessary given the scale of current threats.
