Rubio meets NATO leaders in Brussels as Russian envoy visits Washington

Apr 3

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with NATO foreign ministers to reassure European allies of the U.S. commitment to the alliance. Rubio emphasized the need for increased defense spending, calling for a “realistic pathway” to 5% of GDP.
Rubio’s visit comes amid tensions between Washington and Europe, fueled by U.S. tariffs and President Trump’s criticisms of NATO spending.
The U.S. is also engaging with Russia, with investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev set to meet with Trump administration officials in Washington.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday, April 3, aiming to reassure European allies about U.S. commitment to the alliance under President Donald Trump. Rubio emphasized that the U.S. would remain in NATO and called for allies to increase defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product.

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While reaffirming U.S. support, Rubio also underscored Trump’s view that the alliance needs more substantial capabilities. NATO currently recommends that members spend 2% of their GDP on defense. Only 23 of the 32 members met that threshold last year. Some nations, including Italy and Spain, remain below the target.

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How the visit fits into Trump’s NATO stance

Rubio’s visit comes amid tensions between Washington and Europe, fueled by new U.S. tariffs and Trump’s criticisms of NATO spending. Trump has proposed tariffs on European imports and has warned that the U.S. may not defend NATO members that don’t meet defense commitments.

Despite those comments, Rubio said NATO remains essential and defended Trump’s push for financial burden-sharing. He called for a “realistic pathway” toward the 5% target and noted that increased investment would help NATO confront evolving threats from Russia, China and Iran.

What’s the status of US-Russia diplomacy?

Meanwhile, Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev will travel to Washington to meet with Trump administration officials. Dmitriev’s visit will mark the highest-level Kremlin engagement in the U.S. since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Dmitriev, a former Goldman Sachs banker and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, said the meetings were focused on restoring U.S.-Russia dialogue. He posted on social media that talks would aim to rebuild economic and diplomatic ties, which he said were “completely destroyed under the Biden administration.”

What role is Dmitriev playing in US-Russia talks?

Dmitriev is seen as a key intermediary between the Kremlin and Trump’s inner circle. He previously helped broker a prisoner exchange with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and has promoted cooperation on energy, rare earths and Arctic development.

U.S. officials say Witkoff invited Dmitriev to Washington, and the White House issued a short-term license to allow the sanctioned Russian official to travel. The Trump administration did not place new tariffs on Russia during the same week it imposed sweeping trade penalties on other nations, including Ukraine.

Broader implications for Europe

Rubio’s talks in Brussels coincided with growing concern in Europe that the Trump administration may press for a ceasefire in Ukraine on terms favorable to Moscow. Trump has voiced frustration with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the pace of negotiations.

European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, continue to advocate strong support for Ukraine and stress that any peace must be just and lasting. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have not confirmed whether Dmitriev’s visit will include discussions on the war.

Tags: Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, NATO, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin

[Ryan Robertson]

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO IS IN BRUSSELS THIS WEEK, MEETING WITH NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS AS QUESTIONS GROW ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S POSITION ON EUROPE, UKRAINE, AND RUSSIA.

RUBIO TOLD ALLIES THE U.S. REMAINS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO NATO, EVEN AS PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PUSHING FOR A MAJOR SHIFT IN DEFENSE SPENDING. TRUMP WANTS ALL NATO MEMBERS TO SPEND FIVE PERCENT OF THEIR GDP ON DEFENSE—MORE THAN DOUBLE THE CURRENT TWO PERCENT RECOMMENDED BENCHMARK. 23 OF NATO’S 32 MEMBERS HIT THAT GOAL LAST YEAR.

RUBIO SAID TRUMP STILL SUPPORTS THE ALLIANCE BUT BELIEVES OTHER COUNTRIES NEED TO SHOULDER MORE OF THE BURDEN. HE ALSO STRESSED THE ADMINISTRATION’S FOCUS ON ENDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE, A POSITION THAT HAS SOME EUROPEAN LEADERS WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE RUSH TO COMPROMISE WITH MOSCOW.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S NEW TARIFFS ON EU IMPORTS ADDED ANOTHER LAYER OF TENSION TO THE TALKS. SOME EUROPEAN OFFICIALS FEAR HE COULD USE NATO POLICY TO INFLUENCE TRADE TERMS OR TO SCALE BACK MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL MARK RUTTE NOTED EUROPEAN MEMBERS ALREADY BOOSTED DEFENSE SPENDING AT THE FASTEST PACE SINCE THE COLD WAR. BUT HE ADMITTED MORE WORK LIES AHEAD. THE ALLIANCE EXPECTS TO SET NEW SPENDING TARGETS THIS SUMMER, BUT RUBIO SAID THE U.S. WANTS TO SEE A CLEAR ROADMAP NOW.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN WASHINGTON, A KREMLIN OFFICIAL UNDER U.S. SANCTIONS IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REPRESENTATIVES. KIRILL DMITRIEV, A TOP RUSSIAN INVESTMENT ENVOY,WILL VISIT UNDER A TEMPORARY WAIVER GRANTED BY U.S. OFFICIALS. TRUMP ENVOY STEVE WITKOFF INVITED HIM TO D-C LAST WEEK.

DMITRIEV CALLED THE MEETINGS A CHANCE TO REOPEN U.S.-RUSSIA DIALOGUE, WHICH HE SAID BROKE DOWN UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. DMITRIEV MENTIONED POSSIBLE COOPERATION ON ENERGY, INVESTMENT, AND SECURITY—BUT SO FAR, NEITHER SIDE ANNOUNCED ANY AGREEMENTS.

THESE PARALLEL DIPLOMATIC MOVES ARE SIGNS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S BROADER STRATEGY TO RESET RELATIONS WITH BOTH EUROPE AND RUSSIA.

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