Synopsis
On January 24, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to outline President Trump's immediate foreign policy priorities, emphasizing NATO's importance and the need for cooperation on issues like Ukraine and defense spending.Key Takeaways
- Rubio emphasized the US commitment to NATO.
- Trump calls for increased NATO defense spending.
- The US and NATO discussed Ukraine and Russia's conflict.
- Turkey's role as a NATO ally was highlighted.
- Rubio offered condolences for the Bolu hotel fire victims.
Washington, Jan 24 (NationPress) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in a discussion with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte "to outline President Trump's immediate foreign policy objectives," as reported by spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
The conversation took place prior to President Donald Trump's address at Davos on Thursday, where he urged NATO allies to elevate their defense expenditures to five percent of their GDP.
During the dialogue with Rutte, Rubio "emphasized the US commitment to NATO and the ongoing significance of the Alliance for global security" and they "addressed the necessity of having capable defense Allies and equitable burden sharing."
They also discussed "the critical need to end Russia's war against Ukraine and the pursuit of a peaceful resolution" and "agreed that the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific regions are deeply interconnected, highlighting the requirement for enhanced collaboration and understanding across these areas," according to the released readout on Thursday.
In a post on X, Rutte characterized the conversation as a "productive call," stating, "great to have you on board!"
"I look forward to welcoming you to #NATO and collaborating on Ukraine, Russia, and China," Rutte added.
"Increasing defense spending in Europe and enhancing transatlantic defense production strengthens us all."
Rubio also had a conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday, as per a different readout.
He highlighted Turkey's vital role as a NATO ally and the importance of the US-Turkey partnership.
The two also discussed "the need for an inclusive transition in Syria, ensuring that the new government prevents Syria from becoming a breeding ground for international terrorism, and denying foreign malign actors the chance to take advantage of Syria's transition for their own purposes," the readout indicated.
Rubio "expressed his heartfelt condolences for the casualties and injuries resulting from the tragic hotel fire in Bolu," it added.
