Brussels, Apr. 3, (dpa/GNA) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday underscored the need for NATO allies to spend more on defence, as the world was reeling from President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs on all imports to the United States.
Rubio, speaking at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, said his administration understood that allies will not be able to massively increase defence expenditure right away, but stressed the need for a clear “pathway” for allies to hike their contributions.
Trump has repeatedly demanded that NATO allies boost defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) as he accuses them of piggy-backing on the massive US defence budget, a stance Rubio reiterated at the start of the two-day gathering.
“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 spending,” including the US, he said.
US Department of Defense figures show that the US spent 2.7% of its GDP on defence in 2024.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for defence spending to be raised to “considerably north of 3%” – a decision that is expected to be taken at the next summit in June.
Rubio said Trump remains committed to NATO but sees an urgent need to bolster the alliance’s capabilities in light of recent events including Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“No one expects that you’re going to be able to do this in one year or two, but the pathway has to be real,” Rubio said, adding that the US wants NATO to be “stronger” and “more viable.”
A number of NATO countries have already pledged to raise defence spending above the current target of at least 2% of GDP, but for many larger members, including Germany, Trump’s 5% target is considered unrealistic.
A new trade order?
Trump’s latest trade moves could negatively affect European efforts to bolster defence spending, amid fears that the US import duties could dent the global economy and thus allies’ war chests.
On Wednesday, the US president announced that the United States would introduce blanket tariffs of at least 10% on all imports, including a 20% toll on goods from the European Union.
While Rutte was quick to assure that the new tariffs would not negatively affect the discussions in Brussels, Trump’s decision is likely to amplify the rift apparent in NATO since he took office again in January.
The Trump administration has not only relentlessly been pushing NATO allies on defence spending, but also drew ire when suggesting that Ukraine will have to give up on its ambitions to join NATO in order for Russia to withdraw.
Economic security matters too
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, outgoing German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted that economic security is linked to “overall security.”
Baerbock, who arrived in Brussels on the heels of a visit to Ukraine and Moldova, said questions of economic security could not be separated from questions of “our own security,” as evidenced by the hybrid warfare employed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Most states in this world are not just interested in fair security rules but in fair and free trade relations,” she said, adding that Europe was “strongly positioned to protect itself.”
Asked whether the new US tariffs would impact the ability of European countries to raise defence spending, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said: “We can do it. It’s not easy, but we have to do it. Because Russia is trying to destroy us.”
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said it was important to remember that “if we want to build resources for a stronger defence, we need to have economic growth and protectionism will not do us any good.”
He referred to Article 2 of the NATO Treaty, which states that member states should “seek to eliminate conflict in their international
economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between any or all of them.”
NATO allies have been determined to present a united front in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago, but those efforts have been undermined by the Trump administration in recent weeks, not least by sidelining European members from peace talks with Moscow.
NATO ministers are also discussing continued support for Ukraine, with allies already having pledged over €20 billion ($21.6 billion) in security assistance in 2025, according to Rutte.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said it was “time to increase pressure on Russia.”
“Russia remains an existential threat to Europe,” Sybiha said ahead of consultations with NATO ministers.
While Ukraine had agreed to a US proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin “talks about demands and conditions,” he said, speaking alongside Rutte.
Russia said it has agreed to a US-brokered limited ceasefire to halt mutual attacks on energy facilities, but both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement. So far, Moscow has opposed an unconditional ceasefire.
In light of Russia’s military build-up, Sybiha said the question wasn’t whether it was planning to also attack the rest of Europe: “The question is only, will we be prepared or not?”
GNA
PDC