As tensions rise within the NATO alliance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Brussels to reassure uneasy allies, while France has voiced sharp concerns over President Donald Trump’s committment to Europe's security.
France has sounded the alarm over what it sees as growing cracks in NATO unity, following US President Donald Trump’s latest moves and remarks.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned the alliance is “being tested by the decisions taken and announced yesterday by President Trump,” as concerns mount in Europe over Washington’s long-term commitment to transatlantic security.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and newly appointed US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker arrived in Brussels seeking to calm nerves at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
European officials are hoping for clarity on the Trump administration’s intentions, particularly regarding the future of US troop deployment in Europe.
NATO 'stronger' with Trump
Despite a chorus of unease from European capitals and Canada, Rubio struck an optimistic tone, dismissing what he called “hysteria and hyperbole” in the media over the US role in NATO.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, he insisted, “The United States is as active in NATO as it has ever been".
“President Trump has made clear he supports NATO,” Rubio told reporters. “We’re going to remain in NATO. We want it to be stronger and more visible, and that means our partners – the member states – must continue to build their capabilities".
Ambassador Whitaker echoed the sentiment, stating: “Under President Trump’s leadership, NATO will be stronger and more effective than ever before".
However, he also stressed that the alliance’s vitality depends on all members “doing their fair share”.
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Europe wary of US threats
Still, many allies remain sceptical, particularly in light of Trump’s warmer rhetoric toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, his criticism of NATO partners like Canada and Denmark, and a new round of global tariffs that could impact key allies.
The mood in Europe is watchful, with several countries convinced that a significant US drawdown may be on the horizon.
This comes as Rubio met with Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on the sidelines on the gathering, though neither commented when asked about Greenland – still a sore subject after Trump previously floated the idea of purchasing the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
NATO Secretary-General Rutte, tasked with holding the alliance together, downplayed the threat of a sudden American withdrawal. “These issues are not new,” he said. “There are no plans for [US forces] to all of a sudden draw down their presence here in Europe".
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'Burden shifting' strategies
However, behind closed doors, doubts persist. Trump’s recent shifts in foreign policy – particularly a shift toward Asia and tightening focus on US borders – have left European NATO members scrambling to fill potential security gaps.
In Washington, tensions have also flared. Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi and chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, publicly rebuked “mid-level” Pentagon officials for allegedly pushing an uncoordinated plan to “drastically reduce” US troop levels in Europe – claims the US Defence Department has not confirmed.
Meanwhile, European governments and Canada are accelerating “burden shifting” strategies to take on more responsibility, ensuring NATO’s deterrence remains credible even in the face of potential US retrenchment.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp summed up the prevailing European view, stating: “The US expects European allies to take more responsibility for their own security. That means European NATO countries must quickly strengthen the European pillar of NATO and increase defence spending”.
