Marco Rubio Meets NATO Allies in Sweden After Trump Calls Alliance Into Question Over Iran War

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet NATO allies in Sweden for the first time since President Donald Trump called the alliance into question over divisions over the Iran war and Washington announced plans to pull 5,000 troops from Europe.

“Rubio to tell NATO ministers Trump 'very disappointed' over Iran war stance By Sabine Siebold, Stine Jacobsen and Michael Martina HELSINGBORG, Sweden May 22 (Reuters) - U”

Al-Monitor

Reuters reported that before leaving for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden, Rubio said Trump was "very disappointed" in alliance members who had not allowed the U.S. to use bases on their territory for the war, singling out Spain in particular.

Al-Monitor

The AP said Rubio would attend the NATO meeting in Helsingborg on Friday, one of the last senior-level NATO gatherings before alliance leaders meet at a summit in Ankara, Turkey, in July.

AP also reported that the State Department said Rubio would echo demands "for increased defense investment and greater burden sharing in the alliance," while focusing on Arctic issues and meeting NATO’s Arctic members.

RFE/RL framed the backdrop as European unease over U.S. troop drawdowns, citing a senior European diplomat warning that "the continent is seemingly being kept in the dark about the scope of this drawdown."

RFE/RL said the uncertainty stems from announcements that raised fears across Europe that Washington may be weakening its security guarantees, including Trump’s plan to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany and the Pentagon’s cancellation of a planned rotational deployment of roughly 4,000 troops to Poland.

RFE/RL quoted a senior European diplomat saying, "The worst thing is the fact that the continent is seemingly being kept in the dark about the scope of this drawdown," adding that frontline states such as the Baltic countries are struggling to plan.

AnewZ

In the same RFE/RL report, Congressman Don Bacon told RFE/RL that Rubio plays a key role in stabilizing relations and said he hoped Rubio would reinforce Washington's commitment to collective defense while urging European allies to increase defense spending.

AP reported that the alliance’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, said Tuesday that he doesn’t expect any more drawdowns of American troops from Europe — at least not anytime soon — beyond the 5,000 that Trump announced would leave the continent.

AP also described how Trump’s often inconsistent stance and the fallout from the Iran war and rising energy prices have created concern, with the State Department saying Rubio would focus on Arctic issues and meet NATO’s Arctic members to discuss shared economic and security interests in the Arctic.

CNN said the war in Ukraine and uncertainty over continued U.S. support are key concerns as NATO foreign ministers meet in Sweden, alongside growing pressure on European allies to take greater responsibility for their own defence.

“Rubio heads to a NATO meeting as European angst over Trump reliability, US troops, Iran grows Rubio heads to a NATO meeting as European angst over Trump reliability, US troops, Iran grows WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel this week to a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden, where U”

AP News

Washington Times reported that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson that in Ankara, "we must show that we are making real progress," including producing more, strengthening supply chains and stockpiles, and ensuring militaries have what they need to deter and defend.

The Washington Times also said Rutte described Sweden as a staunch supporter of Ukraine, adding that "Your military assistance includes tanks, combat vehicles, air defense, advanced weapon systems, ammunition training, and airborne surveillance and control aircraft."

AP reported that Rubio would then travel on to India and plans to visit four cities, including Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi, where he will see Indian officials and is expected to meet with his Indian, Australian and Japanese counterparts.

Reuters added that NATO’s top commander, U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, sought to reassure European allies about recent decisions by saying further drawdowns would stretch over years to give allies time to develop capabilities to replace them.