13:23 06-04-2026

Rubio’s NATO Remarks Stir Alarm Across Europe

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Marco Rubio’s NATO remarks have raised concerns in Europe, as doubts grow over US commitment, alliance unity, and future transatlantic security ties.

Comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioning NATO’s effectiveness have triggered a wave of concern across European capitals. According to The Economist, anxiety is growing among political elites in Europe over the future of the alliance.

Until recently, Rubio had been viewed as one of the last voices in Washington consistently backing strong transatlantic ties and continued support for Ukraine. His shift in tone now raises the prospect that this line within the US administration may be weakening.

Former US ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder has suggested that the alliance is going through one of the most difficult periods in its history.

A Finnish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the situation may have reached a stage where European governments are no longer able to influence President Donald Trump’s increasingly critical stance toward NATO. In this context, he argued that Europe should accelerate efforts to strengthen its own military capabilities within the bloc-either to sway Washington or to prepare for a potential US withdrawal.

On April 1, Rubio called for a reassessment of NATO’s role for the United States following the conflict with Iran, noting that the final decision would rest with Trump. He framed the issue as a question of whether the alliance still serves its intended purpose or has effectively become a one-sided arrangement in which the US bears the burden of defending Europe while receiving limited support in return, including restrictions on access to bases and airspace.

Earlier, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth also warned that NATO risks losing its relevance if member states are unwilling to back the United States.