US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed fears of Washington abandoning NATO as “unwarranted hysteria”, seeking to reassure European allies during high-stakes talks in Brussels, Euractiv reported.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Rubio insisted the US remains fully committed to the alliance.
Some of this hysteria and hyperbole that I see in the global media and some domestic media in the US about NATO is unwarranted. US President Trump has made clear he supports NATO. The US is as active in NATO as it has ever been.
His comments aimed to counter speculation fuelled by Trump’s past claims that the US might withdraw if European nations fail to meet spending targets. Rutte echoed Rubio’s assurances, denying any plans for a US military drawdown in Europe.
If the Americans want to pivot more to Asia, obviously we will do that in a coordinated manner.
Rubio outlined an ambitious new benchmark for allies: a 5% GDP defence spending target, up from NATO’s current 2% guideline. He framed the 5% target as ensuring the alliance “has the capabilities to fulfil its obligations”, which is seen as a tacit nod to Trump’s transactional approach. Meanwhile, the US itself spends 3.4% of GDP on defence.
For most European members, the goal appears unattainable. Only 23 of 32 allies met the existing 2% threshold in 2024, though frontline states like Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia now exceed 3% amid the war in Ukraine. Rutte also urged members to aim for 3.5% “as soon as possible”.
Eastern European nations are leading the charge, with Poland’s defence budget set to hit 4% of GDP in 2025. Germany, long criticised for underinvestment, now spends 2.1%, whereas France and the UK hover around 2.3%.
Rubio’s remarks made no mention of the comprehensive US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imposed hours before his visit to Brussels. However, the move, justified as protecting US industries, risks inflaming transatlantic tensions further.
