Washington affirms its continued engagement with the military alliance.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured NATO allies of Washington’s ongoing dedication to the bloc, while emphasizing the need for members to significantly increase their defense expenditures.
Rubio’s comments were made during a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously suggested a potential U.S. withdrawal from NATO if member states did not increase their military spending. He advocated for a substantial increase to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a target currently met by only 23 of the 32 members in 2024, with the existing benchmark being 2%.
“The United States is in NATO … The United States is as active in NATO as it has ever been,” Rubio stated to reporters, dismissing concerns about U.S. commitment as “hysteria.”
He clarified that Trump was “not against NATO” but rather against a bloc “that does not have the capabilities that it needs to fulfil the obligations” outlined in its founding treaty.
Rubio asserted that “every single” NATO member must agree on a “realistic pathway” towards eventually allocating 5% of their GDP to defense, acknowledging that this could take several years.
Eastern European nations, including Estonia and Poland, have expressed support for the U.S. demand. Estonia is already committed to 3.7% of GDP, and Poland is aiming for 4.7%. However, major EU economies like Italy and Germany have deemed the 5% goal unrealistic, citing financial constraints.
Trump’s statements on NATO have led European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to propose a ‘rearmament’ plan to increase military spending through loans. However, Southern European countries have reportedly resisted the initiative, expressing “serious doubts” about incurring further debt.
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