Rubio Outlines Big Shift for NATO

The United States is staying in NATO—for now—but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made it clear: if European countries want continued American support, they need to meet higher defense spending goals.

Key Facts:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed at a NATO event in Brussels that the U.S. will remain in the alliance.
Rubio called on all NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, up from the 2% previously agreed upon.
As of 2024, the U.S. spends 3.38% of GDP on defense and is pledging to raise it to 5%.
Eight NATO members still haven’t met the 2% threshold, including Canada, Italy, and Spain.
Around 100,000 American troops are currently stationed in Europe as part of NATO operations.

The Rest of The Story:

At the Brussels NATO summit, Rubio reinforced the U.S. commitment to the alliance while firmly pressing other members to increase their defense budgets.

He noted that Europe’s focus on social welfare has come at the cost of military readiness, a gap exposed by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Rubio’s call for members to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP marks a sharp increase from the 2% minimum agreed upon years ago.

Only five NATO countries currently spend more than 3% on defense, with Poland leading at over 4%.

Meanwhile, nations like Canada and Belgium still fall short of the 2% mark.

Rubio emphasized that the U.S. remains heavily invested in NATO, both politically and militarily.

But his message was clear—shared defense must come with shared responsibility.

Peace isn't free. It’s time for our Allies to increase defense spending. Thanks to @USNATO and @USAmbNATO for your work to make sure NATO is stronger together. pic.twitter.com/Cog58cwRjk

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 3, 2025

Commentary:

For years, the United States has carried the lion’s share of NATO’s defense burden.

Many Americans are now questioning the point of continuing in an alliance where wealthy European nations contribute far less yet expect full protection.

France is a prominent NATO partner that—while benefiting from our mutual-defense obligations—is actively discouraging businesses from investing in the U.S.

Shouldn’t that impact how we think about NATO? https://t.co/dGkpo1I7K9

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) April 3, 2025

While some have called for the U.S. to leave NATO entirely, President Trump has chosen a different path—stay in the alliance, but demand more from it.

Rubio’s proposal for all members to spend 5% of GDP on defense reflects that vision: peace through strength, not charity through weakness.

It’s a tough but fair ask.

If NATO is to remain credible, member nations must treat collective defense as a serious obligation, not a favor provided by Washington.

Countries that can afford lavish social spending can afford to protect their citizens too.

The United States will likely remain the biggest spender either way.

But it’s not unreasonable to expect others to step up.

True alliances are built on trust—and shared sacrifice.

Sticking together as the West is vital in today’s world.

But that unity only means something if everyone has skin in the game.

The Bottom Line:

Secretary Rubio made it clear: the U.S. is staying in NATO, but the status quo must change.

If allies want the benefits of American military power, they must match it with meaningful commitments of their own.

The call for 5% defense spending is a bold step toward restoring balance in NATO and preparing for the realities of global threats.