NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a strong and unambiguous message reaffirming Washington’s commitment to the NATO alliance during the foreign ministers’ meeting. Rutte emphasized that all member states remain united in their obligations and dedication to mutual defense and cooperation.

Rutte highlighted that European and Canadian allies must step up by taking on greater defense responsibilities. "Europe and Canada must take more responsibility," he said, stressing that allies intend to invest significantly more in defense. He added that efforts will be made to increase both the speed and scale of defense production and to remove regulatory hurdles that currently slow down manufacturing.

On the topic of recent trade developments, Rutte addressed concerns over U.S. tariffs imposed on allied countries. He stated that he does not believe these tariffs constitute a violation of NATO’s Article 2, which encourages the elimination of economic conflicts among member states and the promotion of economic collaboration. "We’ve seen many examples of differences of view, fights over tariffs," Rutte noted, adding that such disputes have occurred without breaching the alliance’s foundational rules.

When asked about how the tariffs might influence defense budgets or contributions from allied nations, Rutte declined to speculate, saying that those decisions rest with individual member states.

His remarks come amid heightened economic and geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding transatlantic trade dynamics and rising expectations for NATO countries to bolster their military capabilities. The statements from Rutte signal a continued push for allied cohesion while acknowledging the complex interplay of trade and defense policy within the alliance.