The United States will remain in NATO, U.S. officials confirmed Thursday during a summit in Brussels. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Matt Whitaker, the new U.S. ambassador to NATO, made the assurance during a meeting with NATO foreign ministers.
Ahead of a session with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Rubio dismissed concerns over the future of the alliance under President Donald Trump as “hysteria.” He said, “The United States remains in NATO. The president has been clear about that. But we want a stronger, more visible alliance, and that means greater commitment from our allies.”
Whitaker echoed Rubio’s comments, adding, “Under President Trump, NATO will be more effective than ever, but each member must contribute.”
Rubio stressed that Trump’s position is clear: “He opposes a NATO that lacks the capabilities to meet the obligations each country has under the treaty.” The president has repeatedly urged NATO members to increase military spending to 5% of GDP, which exceeds even U.S. levels. “It’s a hard truth, but one that needs to be addressed,” Rubio said.
While these statements may have reassured some, European allies remain cautious. There is ongoing concern about Trump’s praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as tensions over trade and repeated U.S. criticisms of longtime allies, including Canada and Denmark.
Rubio met briefly with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on the summit’s sidelines, with little public exchange beyond a handshake and a smile. They did not address questions on the future of Greenland, the Danish territory that has drawn White House interest, with Trump recently suggesting it would “certainly” become part of the U.S.
Despite reassurances, there is ongoing speculation about the future of U.S. military presence in Europe. “There are no immediate plans for withdrawal,” Rutte said. However, some diplomats remain skeptical. “We need clarity. If the U.S. plans to reduce its contribution, we need to know when and how,” a NATO source told The Associated Press. The U.S. currently has about 100,000 troops stationed in Europe, alongside the Sixth Fleet and nuclear deterrent forces. But growing pressures to reduce costs and streamline command structures have led to expectations of a potential drawdown.
“The Americans expect Europe to take on more responsibility,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp. “We need more defense spending and a stronger European pillar within NATO.”
“We need to bring them into a discussion on timing and capabilities,” a European diplomat told The Washington Post. “Once we’ve done our calculations, we’ll see if we can influence this transition, rather than just receiving it as an abrupt announcement.”
Concerns have grown after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized Washington’s increased focus on the Pacific region and its own borders.
The U.S. provides advanced military capabilities that Europe would struggle to replace in the short term, from intelligence to strategic transport, air-to-air refueling, missile defense, and long-range weapons. U.S. air and naval bases remain a key part of Europe’s defense structure, with a force that has grown to over 100,000 since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A NATO official said the real challenge to replacing U.S. capabilities is funding. A significant increase in defense spending is considered essential for maintaining credible deterrence. Even if the U.S. reduces its footprint, the official said, as long as its presence remains meaningful, it would not be a fatal blow to NATO’s defense posture.
Looking ahead, NATO allies agree that Europe must take more responsibility in the alliance’s command structure, but the U.S. will likely continue to hold the crucial role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). “The last American to leave Europe should be the SACEUR,” one NATO diplomat said.
Current SACEUR, Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, has played a pivotal role in coordinating military aid to Ukraine and in relations between Kyiv and Washington. His term ends this summer, and the choice of his successor could provide insight into how committed the Trump administration is to NATO’s future.
