NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the unity and commitment of Alliance members on Friday after a meeting of the organisation's foreign ministers in Brussels.
Rutte emphasised that the consensus from the two-day discussions is that, in an increasingly dangerous world, NATO is more vital than ever. He stated that the Alliance is united in its mutual commitment, despite the current trade tensions with the United States.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States' commitment to NATO. This came a day after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on European imports.
Rubio emphasised that the US remains as active in NATO as it has always been. He criticised the media's "hysteria" about a potential US disengagement from the Alliance. Additionally, he urged European NATO members and Canada to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP.
When asked about these trade tensions, Rutte distinguished them from NATO's core function of territorial defence. He noted that past discussions on non-defence issues within the Alliance did not impact the members' ability to ensure collective security.
Rutte also expressed his admiration for Washington's involvement in ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He praised the US administration for its dynamic yet thoughtful approach to the talks, which he believes has now placed the onus on Russia.
