Rubio tries to reassure NATO allies while Trump sends mixed signals

By Matthew Lee and Lorne Cook, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the new Trump administration to NATO seek to reassure NATO allies from US engagement to the Alliance.

Rubio decreed on Thursday “hysteria and hyperbola” in the media about President Donald Trump’s intentions despite the persistent Washington signals that NATO, as it has existed for 75 years, could no longer be relevant.

Rubio and the newly confirmed American ambassador with NATO Matt Whitaker are in Brussels for a meeting of foreign alliances in which many hope that Rubio will make the light on American security plans in Europe.

“The United States is also active in NATO and ever,” Rubio told journalists Rubio by welcoming NATO chief Mark Rutte, before the start of the meeting. “And part of this hysteria and this hyperbola that I see in the world media and certain national media in the United States on NATO are not justified.”

“President Trump clearly said he was supporting NATO,” said Rubio. “We are going to stay in NATO.”

“We want NATO to be stronger, we want NATO to be more visible and the only way in which NATO can become stronger, more visible is that our partners, the nation states that make up this important alliance, have more capacities,” he said.

In a statement, Whitaker said that “under the leadership of President Trump, NATO will be stronger and more effective than ever before, and I believe that a robust NATO can continue to serve as a foundation of peace and prosperity”. But he added: “NATO’s vitality is based on all the allies who make their fair share.”

Concerns concerning the American commitment to the allies

Despite these words, European allies and Canada are deeply concerned about Trump’s desire to get closer to the Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who considers NATO as a threat while the United States tries to negotiate a cease-fire in Ukraine, its rhetorical attacks and its insults against allies like Canada and Denmark.

And Trump’s imposition of new world prices, which will affect the allies, added to uncertainty and discomfort.

Asked about the concerns among the European allies concerning a possible withdrawal of American troops and the importance of obtaining clear messages from the Trump administration, Rutte said: “These problems are not new. There are no plans for them all of a sudden, their presence here in Europe.”

Indeed, the Trump administration did not inform its NATO allies to all the levels it may have. But several European countries are convinced that American troops and equipment will be withdrawn, and they want to discover Rubio how much and when they can fill the security gaps.

“We have to pre-empt a quick retirement, but we have not yet had a species from the United States,” said a superior NATO diplomat before the meeting, informing journalists about the expectations of his country provided that he is not appointed.

Rutte dilemma

Rutte is in a link. European allies and Canada have prevented him from keeping the United States firmly at NATO. About 100,000 American soldiers are stationed in Europe as well as the 6th fleet and native nuclear warheads. The American fireplace ensures that NATO’s ability to dissuade Russia is credible.

This means that he cannot openly criticize Trump, who is the commander -in -chief of the biggest and best equipped armed forces of NATO.

What is clear is that the American allies must increase defense expenses even more than they have already done since the launch of its large -scale invasion of Ukraine 3 years ago, so that they can defend Europe with less American aid and maintain the armed forces of Ukraine in the fight.

“The United States expects European allies to assume more responsibility for its own security,” said Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp, ​​which means that “European NATO countries must quickly strengthen the European Pillar of NATO and must increase their defense expenses.”

Since the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth warned last month that US security priorities are elsewhere – in Asia and on the United States of the United States – Europeans have waited to find out how important a military withdrawal could be in Europe and how fast it could happen.

In Europe and Canada, governments are working on the “change of charge” to take control of the charge, while trying to ensure that no empty security is created if American troops and equipment are removed from the continent.

Originally published: April 3, 2025 at 4:18 pm PDT