U.S. Secretary of State and Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker arrived in Brussels on Thursday for discussions intended to clarify the U.S.’s future strategy in Europe for its allies.
Rubio’s arrival occurs amid concerns from European allies and Canada regarding willingness to align more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who views NATO as a threat. Recent remarks and criticisms from the White House directed at NATO allies and the alliance itself have caused worry and uncertainty.
The situation is further complicated by targeting both allies and adversaries. On the day before Rubio’s arrival, Trump signed an executive order imposing a minimum tariff of 10% on all imports.
Since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested last month that U.S. security priorities lie elsewhere, specifically in Asia and on U.S. borders, European nations have been awaiting information on the potential scale and speed of a military reduction in Europe.
Governments in Europe and Canada are developing “burden-sharing” strategies to assume greater responsibility while ensuring that the withdrawal of U.S. troops and equipment does not create a security gap on the continent.
These allies are eager to learn about the Trump administration’s intentions from Rubio and hope to obtain a roadmap outlining future actions and timelines, enabling them to coordinate planning and utilize European forces to fill any resulting voids.
Newly confirmed U.S. ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker stated that the alliance “will be stronger and more effective than ever before” under Trump’s leadership.
“I believe that a robust NATO can continue to serve as a bedrock of peace and prosperity,” Whitaker said in a statement, adding: “NATO’s vitality rests on every ally doing their fair share.”
Whitaker emphasized the U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective security guarantee, which considers an attack on one ally as an attack on all, but also stated that his mission would be to encourage Europe to take the lead on “peace, security, and the rebuilding of Ukraine.”
Whitaker also expressed that allies should demonstrate that NATO is taking threats from China seriously.