Rubio states U.S. pressure on NATO allies for defense spending is not hostile

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Thursday that U.S. pressure on NATO allies to increase their defense spending "is not a hostile thing," emphasizing that the Trump administration seeks to strengthen the military alliance as a deterrent against threats. Rubio made these comments during his visit to Portugal, a NATO ally, where he highlighted that a stronger NATO leads to stronger alliances and better deterrence. President Donald Trump has previously criticized NATO allies for not spending enough on defense, which he claims places an unfair burden on the United States. Some NATO members have been hesitant to allocate funds away from other government priorities. "People sometimes view this call to invest more in defense as a hostile thing," Rubio remarked, adding, "It is not a hostile thing." During his tour of NATO allies, which included Iceland and Greece, Rubio acknowledged that smaller NATO members like Portugal face challenges in funding major military projects. He pointed out the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, and the potential for it to escalate into a broader conflict affecting NATO countries. "That escalation could wind up being a sabotage campaign in neighboring countries that are members of NATO," he said. European officials have accused Russia of attempting to undermine support for Ukraine and destabilize European nations. Rubio mentioned that the Trump administration will continue to pursue a negotiated settlement to the war, although progress has been difficult. He commended Portugal for its efforts to meet NATO's defense spending target, noting that the country currently spends just over 2% of its GDP on defense and plans to increase it to around 3%. However, this is still below the 5% of GDP that Trump has called for. Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel stated that Portugal considers its relationship with the U.S. as fundamental, highlighting the use of the Lajes Field air base in the Azores for American military operations. Rubio described Portugal as a cooperative ally and emphasized the importance of reinforcing ties during his visit. Some political parties in Portugal have expressed opposition to the U.S. use of the air base, and the attorney general's office is investigating the legality of this arrangement following a complaint from the Left Bloc party. Rubio's visit to Portugal followed a speech in Athens, Greece, where he urged European nations to uphold the values of Western civilization.