Secretary of State Marco Rubio and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on April 3, 2025, marking Rubio's first meeting of foreign ministers in his current role. During the session, Secretary General Rutte expressed his sympathies regarding the recent deaths of four U.S. soldiers in Lithuania, mentioning ongoing efforts by the U.S., Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia to handle the situation.
Rutte praised Secretary Rubio's diplomatic efforts, saying, "Marco, I want to commend you for your tireless diplomacy over the last couple of months. You have traveled the whole world." He highlighted ongoing discussions on critical issues, primarily focusing on Ukraine. Rutte stated that NATO Allies have contributed over $20 billion in support to Ukraine, underscoring the collective effort to aid the country for as long as required.
Rutte discussed addressing other global threats such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, noting their increasing interconnectedness. He emphasized the need for European Allies and Canada to increase defense spending, calling this the largest surge in spending since the Cold War. He stated, "But when you look at the hundreds of billions of euros/dollars now rolling in the last couple of months, this is probably the biggest surge in defense spending we have seen in Canada and Europe since the Cold War."
Secretary Rubio acknowledged the ongoing discussions and stated, "And it also reminds us that the United States is in NATO. We are active. As we speak right now, the United States is as active in NATO as it has ever been." Rubio highlighted President Trump's support for NATO and insisted the U.S. remains committed to fortifying the alliance.
Rubio stressed the importance of NATO members increasing their defense budgets, aiming for a commitment to reach up to 5 percent in spending. He mentioned, "This is a collection not just of partners and Allies but of advanced economies, of rich countries who have the capability to do more."
Rubio also emphasized engaging with Indo-Pacific partners to tackle regional threats to freedom of navigation and territorial integrity.
Both leaders expressed optimism for productive discussions during the meeting.
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