US affirms strong NATO ties, dismisses exit rumors
The U.S. Secretary of State, Mark Rubio, assured the public of the United States' unwavering commitment to NATO. He added that the speculation, termed as "hysteria and hyperbole" in the media about the alleged U.S. exit from NATO is unfounded.
What do you need to know?
- The United States is more active in NATO than ever before, with the goal of strengthening the Alliance.
- Mark Rubio emphasizes that the media hysteria surrounding the alleged U.S. exit from NATO is unfounded.
- The U.S. expects allies to increase defense spending to make NATO stronger and more viable.
During a visit to Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio firmly rejected speculation about a possible U.S. exit from NATO. He emphasized that the U.S. is more committed to the Alliance than ever before. Rubio noted that President Donald Trump clearly supports NATO and has no intention of withdrawing from this organization.
Why does the U.S. want to strengthen NATO?
Rubio explained that the United States aims to strengthen NATO by enhancing the defense capabilities of its allies. He stressed that NATO is not just a group of partners but also consists of wealthy economies that can do more for common security. "We want NATO to be more viable," said Rubio.
What are the U.S. expectations for its allies?
The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that while the United States has its own national needs, its global role makes defense a priority. Rubio expects NATO partners to prioritize defense as well by increasing their spending. "The only way NATO can get stronger and more viable is if our partners, the nation states that comprise this important alliance, have more capability," he added.
During a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Rubio assured attendees that President Trump is not opposed to NATO itself but expects the Alliance to be capable of fulfilling its commitments.
Rubio also addressed the defense expenditures of Alliance members. "(The) ground war in the heart of Europe is a reminder that hard power is still necessary as a deterrent, and so we do want to leave here with an understanding that we are on a pathway, a realistic pathway to every single one of the members committing and fulfilling a promise to reach up to 5% (of GDP) of spending," said Rubio before his first meeting in the format of NATO foreign ministers at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels.
