Rubio wants NATO’s allies commitment to devote 5% of GDP / day to protection
« President Trump has clearly stated that NATO supports. We will remain NATO, » Rubio said, who will be the first meeting with NATO Foreign Ministers. The new US envoy to NATO Matthew Vitakers will also attend the meeting.
« The United States are as active NATO members as ever, » Rubio emphasized to reporters before the meeting. « And this hysteria and exaggeration I see in the world media and some of the US local media on NATO is unfounded, » he added.
Rubio announced that the US wants a stronger and more visible NATO, and this can only be increased by allies.
Vitaker expressed his conviction that NATO would become stronger and more efficient in Trump than ever, adding that he believes strong NATO could continue to serve as a basis for peace and prosperity. At the same time, he stressed that « NATO’s viability depends on whether each ally is making its own fair contribution ».
Asked about a possible reduction in US military presence in Europe, which is concerned about European countries, NATO Secretary General Mark Rite replied that there were no such plans.
The Trump Administration has not informed its NATO allies about its plans, but several European countries are convinced that US troops and equipment will be removed and wants to know how much and when to eliminate any deficiencies in time.
About 100,000 US troops, as well as the 6th floor of the Navy and nuclear warheads, are located in Europe. The US combat forces ensure that NATO’s ability to discourage Russia is credible.
« The US expects European allies to take more responsibility for their security, » said Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp, which means « European NATO countries must quickly strengthen the NATO European pillar and increase their spending on defense. »
