NATO foreign ministers seek reassurance on US commitment to alliance

3/4/2025 17:06

NATO chief Mark Rutte and the new U.S. ambassador sought to reassure European allies on Thursday that Washington will remain committed to the Western military alliance despite harsh words from President Donald Trump.



They spoke as NATO foreign ministers gathered in Brussels with Europeans hoping Secretary of State Marco Rubio will dispel doubts about the U.S. stance even with tensions rising over Trump's steep new trade tariffs.



European belief in the U.S. as the continent's ultimate protector against any attack from Russia has been severely shaken by Trump’s attempted rapprochement with Moscow and heavy pressure on Kyiv as he seeks to end the war in Ukraine.



In addition, Washington has bluntly told European countries in recent months that it can no longer be primarily focused on the continent’s security and they will have to spend much more on defence.



The Trump administration's words and actions have raised questions about the future of NATO, the transatlantic bloc that has been the bedrock of European security for the past 75 years.