BRUSSELS — In the aftermath of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers, the alliance remains operational, yet signs of discord surfaced during the gathering in Brussels. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized on Friday that “we are united in our commitment to each other in this alliance,” asserting that the “transatlantic relationship remains the cornerstone of European security and of global stability.”
Rutte acknowledged concerns regarding the long-term commitment of the U.S. to NATO, stating, “I know there has been some tough language. I know that there have been allies, for example, this side of the pond being worried about the long-term commitment of the U.S. to NATO.” He reiterated the U.S. commitment, saying, “The Americans have stated again and again, ‘We are committed to NATO. We are committed to Article 5.’”
U.S. leaders address NATO’s stability
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized fears of U.S. disengagement from NATO as “hysteria and hyperbole.” His remarks contrasted sharply with those of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who, during his initial trip to Europe, cautioned that American troops would not be stationed in Europe indefinitely.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski mentioned a reassurance from U.S. President Donald Trump that the alliance’s Article 5 collective defense commitment remains robust. He indicated that Trump is expected to attend a leaders’ summit of the alliance in June in The Hague.
However, the recent summit occurred against the backdrop of escalating global tensions, particularly following Trump’s initiation of a trade war that has imposed steep tariffs on NATO allies in Europe and Canada. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly expressed to European colleagues that relations with the U.S. would “never be the same again.”
Concerns over U.S. policy shifts
Criticism was directed at the U.S. from various European leaders. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever remarked on the inconsistency of demanding increased defense spending while simultaneously engaging in trade hostilities. He stated, “It becomes a little complicated to demand things from us after one launches a trade war, after we are humiliated and insulted all the time,” before meeting with Rubio.
Allies have been unsettled by a series of U.S. policy moves in recent weeks, including the withdrawal of military aid to Ukraine, a warming relationship with Russia, threats to not defend NATO allies perceived as underspending on defense, and actions deemed intrusive regarding Canadian sovereignty. Such developments contributed to an uncomfortable atmosphere during the closing press conference for Rutte.
“Thanks for helping us hit 5 percent targets by crashing the world economy,” a member of the French delegation reportedly quipped to their U.S. counterpart during closed discussions, as shared by an official present in the room.
Rutte skillfully navigated questions regarding the U.S. stance on Greenland, a territory of Denmark, suggesting, “I think we should zoom out from Greenland.” He also sidestepped inquiries about the ramifications of the trade war on NATO.
He commented, “I don’t think I’m helping this alliance by commenting on something which is not really part of alliance policy.” Meanwhile, Rubio departed for Washington, canceling a planned final press conference, which the U.S. delegation attributed to a scheduling change.
Despite the undercurrents of tension, foreign ministers maintained that NATO is still operational. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský remarked, “We all understand and feel the profound change in international relations, and in this situation, the Czech policy is to keep America as much as possible involved in European security. NATO presence is one of the unique tools to do so.”
Other officials reiterated their commitment to meeting Trump’s demand for increased military budgets. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže stated, “At a time of significant security challenges, first things come first — we are of course prioritizing security and defense,” noting that Latvia aims to elevate its defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2028.
In his concluding news briefing, Rutte highlighted these commitments, declaring, “We will invest more. Much more.”
Reporting contributed by Laura Kayali from Paris.