Today's Edition
MOHAMMAD GHAZAL (BRUSSELS)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday dismissed growing speculation about the US potentially leaving NATO, labelling such concerns as "hysteria".
Speaking ahead of the two-day NATO foreign ministers' meeting set to kick off later today, he stressed that the US remains fully committed to the alliance, rejecting claims that US President Trump had any intentions of withdrawing.
"We are going to remain in NATO," Rubio told reporters on Thursday at NATO headquarters in Brussels, in response to doubts raised in the media both globally and domestically.
"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 it clear that he supports NATO," he added.
The US official emphasised that the country is not only committed to remaining in NATO, but also actively engaged in efforts to reinforce the alliance and its collective defence posture.
"We want NATO to be stronger. We want NATO to be more viable, and the only way for NATO to become stronger and more viable is to do more," he said.
Rubio also stressed the need for all NATO members, including the US, to contribute their fair share to the alliance’s defence spending.
"We do not want to leave here without understanding that every single partner is committing to a clear pathway to reach 5 percent of their GDP spending on defense. This includes the US. The threats are dire," Rubio warned.
He clarified that Trump’s stance is one of strengthening NATO, but only if the alliance has the necessary capabilities to fulfill its obligations
"Trump is against a NATO that does not have the capabilities that it needs to fulfill the obligations that the treaty imposes upon each and every member state," Rubio said.
Reaffirming the US's position, Rubio stated: "The US is as active in NATO as it has ever been," reinforcing the message that America’s commitment to NATO is as strong as ever.
He reassured that his country’s commitment to the alliance remains unwavering, and that speculation of a US exit is baseless and meritless.
Also speaking to the press at NATO headquarters, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters that “there are no plans for the US to all of a sudden draw down their presence here in Europe”.
“If the Americans want to pivot more to Asia, obviously we will do that in a coordinated manner,” Rutte said.
“We know that the United States is a staunch Ally in NATO. I had a very good meeting with the President, with President Trump, but that commitment comes with an expectation, and the expectation is that European Allies and Canada need to spend more,” the NATO chief added.
“When you look at the hundreds of billions of euros/dollars now rolling in, in the last couple of months, this is probably the biggest surge in defence spending we have seen in Canada and Europe since the Cold War, since the Berlin Wall came down. So that is good news, but still, we need to do more.”
