Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the new U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew (Matt) Whitaker arrived in Brussels today to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers of the alliance's member countries. They will share the plans of President Donald Trump's administration regarding European security, reports the Associated Press, BTA reports.
According to the concern of Washington's European partners, as well as Canada, the AP notes that many are concerned about Trump's closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who perceives NATO as a threat. This dynamic is playing out in the context of the United States’ efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine.
In recent months, White House comments and criticism of U.S. NATO allies, including Canada and Denmark, as well as the alliance itself, have only increased uncertainty and tension. New tariffs imposed on a number of countries, including U.S. allies, have also raised concerns.
After U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned last month that Washington’s defense priorities were shifting to Asia and the U.S. border, Europe is awaiting details on a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops from the continent. This process is expected to be accompanied by the need to rethink the role of European allies in ensuring the security of the region.
European and Canadian governments are working on strategies to assume a greater share of defense spending, while also seeking to prevent the creation of a security vacuum if American troops and equipment leave the region. These allies are waiting to hear from Rubio what the Trump administration’s plans are and hope to receive clarity on the future of American commitments in Europe.
The newly appointed US permanent representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, said that under President Trump, NATO will be a stronger and more effective organization than ever. “A strong NATO will continue to be the foundation of peace and prosperity,” he added. Whitaker stressed that the alliance's viability depends on each ally providing its fair share of defense spending.
He also reaffirmed the US commitment to ensuring collective security within NATO, stressing that an attack on one ally would be considered an attack on all. Whitaker added that his task would be to encourage European partners to focus on achieving peace, security and reconstruction in Ukraine. In his statement, he also stressed that allies must demonstrate NATO's seriousness in responding to threats emanating from China.