US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration's new special representative to NATO are seeking to reassure worried allies by reassuring them of the US commitment to the alliance.
On Thursday, Mr. Rubio denounced “panic and hyperbole” in the media about President Donald Trump’s intentions, despite persistent signals from Washington that NATO in its current form, which has existed for 75 years, may be losing its relevance.
Mr. Rubio and the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker, are in Brussels for a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers, where many hope Mr. Rubio will clarify the U.S. strategy for securing Europe.
“The United States is more engaged in NATO than ever before,” Mr. Rubio told reporters as he greeted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte before the meeting.
“Some of this panic and inflated expectations that I see in the global and some domestic US media about NATO is completely unfounded,” he added.
“President Trump has made it clear that he supports NATO,” Mr. Rubio said. “We remain in NATO.”
“We want NATO to be stronger and more visible, and the only way to do that is if our partners, the nation states that are part of this important alliance, are given more opportunities,” he stressed.
In his statement, Mr Whitaker said that “under President Trump’s leadership, NATO will be stronger and more effective than ever, and I am confident that a strong NATO can continue to serve as the foundation of peace and prosperity.”
However, he added: “NATO's viability depends on each Ally doing its fair share.”
– Concerns about US commitments to allies
Despite those words, European allies and Canada are deeply alarmed by Mr Trump's willingness to cozy up to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who views NATO as a threat as the US seeks a cease-fire in Ukraine, and his harsh rhetoric and insults toward allies such as Canada and Denmark.
Mr Trump's imposition of new global tariffs on Wednesday that will hit allies has added to the uncertainty and anxiety.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
