U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington remains committed to NATO but called for European allies to increase defense spending, emphasizing that they will be given time to meet the goal.
Rubio made these remarks during a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, adding that every member should commit to reaching 5% of GDP for defense, according to Reuters.
Despite tensions regarding President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, Rubio stressed that the U.S. will continue to be a strong supporter of NATO, but made it clear that European allies must contribute more to the continent’s security.
He highlighted that achieving the 5% target will be a long-term process, but the path towards it must be clear and realistic.
NATO has noted that some major European countries, such as Italy and Spain, have still not reached the current target of 2% of GDP for defense spending.
