Rubio tries to reassure wary allies of US commitment to NATO as Trump sends mixed signals

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration’s new envoy to NATO are seeking to reassure wary members of the U.S. commitment to the alliance.

Rubio on Thursday decried “hysteria and hyperbole” in the media about U.S. President Donald Trump’s intentions, despite persistent signals from Washington that NATO as it has existed for 75 years may no longer be relevant.

Rubio and newly confirmed U.S. ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker are in Brussels for a meeting of alliance foreign ministers at which many are hoping Rubio will shed light on U.S. security plans in Europe.

“The United States is as active in NATO as it has ever been,” Rubio told reporters as he greeted NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte before the meeting began. “And some of this hysteria and hyperbole that I see in the global media and some domestic media in the United States about NATO is unwarranted.”

“President Trump’s made clear he supports NATO,” Rubio said. “We’re going to remain in NATO.”

“We want NATO to be stronger, we want NATO to be more visible and the only way NATO can get stronger, more visible is if our partners, the nation states that comprise this important alliance, have more capability,” he said.

Whitaker said in a statement that “under President Trump’s leadership, NATO will be stronger and more effective than ever before, and I believe that a robust NATO can continue to serve as a bedrock of peace and prosperity.” But he added: “NATO’s vitality rests on every ally doing their fair share.”

Despite those words, European allies and Canada are deeply concerned by Trump’s readiness to draw closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who sees NATO as a threat as the U.S. tries to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, as well as his rhetorical attacks and insults against allies like Canada and Denmark.

Rubio and Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen met on the sidelines of the meeting. They didn't respond to a shouted question about Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark which Trump has his eye on, but they smiled and shook hands in front of U.S. and Danish flags.

Trump's imposition of new global tariffs, which will affect allies, have also added to the uncertainty and unease.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that NATO’s unity is “being tested by the decisions taken and announced yesterday (Wednesday) by President Trump."

Asked about concerns among European allies about a possible U.S. troop drawdown and the importance of getting clear messages from the Trump administration, Rutte said: “These issues are not new. There are no plans for them to all of a sudden draw down their presence here in Europe.”

Indeed, the Trump administration hasn't made its NATO allies aware any plans that it might have. But several European countries are convinced that U.S. troops and equipment will be withdrawn, and they want to find out from Rubio how many and when so they can fill any security gaps.

“We need to preempt a rapid retreat, but we’ve had nothing precise from the U.S. yet,” a senior NATO diplomat said before the meeting, briefing reporters on his country’s expectations on condition that he not be named.

In Washington, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee criticized “mid-level” leadership at the Pentagon for what he branded as a misguided plan to “reduce drastically” the number of U.S. troops based in Europe. The U.S. Defense Department hasn't made public any such proposal.

“They’ve been working to pursue a U.S. retreat from Europe and they’ve often been doing so without coordinating with the secretary of defense,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, said at a hearing with U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command military leadership.

It wasn't immediately clear what “mid-level bureaucrats” Wicker was talking about.

NATO's secretary-general is in a bind. European allies and Canada have tasked him with keeping the United States firmly in NATO. Around 100,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe along with the Navy's 6th Fleet and nuclear warheads. U.S. firepower ensures that NATO’s ability to deter Russia is credible.

This means he can't openly criticize Trump, who is commander in chief of the United States, NATO’s biggest and best-equipped armed forces.

What is clear is that U.S. allies must ramp up defense spending even more than they already have since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, so that they can defend Europe with less American help and keep Ukraine’s armed forces in the fight.

“The U.S expects European allies to take more responsibility for their own security,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said, which means that “European NATO countries rapidly have to strengthen the European pillar of NATO and have to increase their defense spending.”

Since U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned last month that American security priorities lie elsewhere — in Asia and on the United States' own borders — the Europeans have waited to learn how big a military drawdown in Europe could be and how fast it may happen.

In Europe and Canada, governments are working on “burden shifting” plans to take over more of the load, while trying to ensure that no security vacuum is created if U.S. troops and equipment are withdrawn from the continent.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, shakes hands with Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen during a NATO foreign ministers meeting at NATO headquarters Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives for a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in foreign ministers format at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, center right, speaks with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha prior to a media statement at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, right, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha address the media at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, speaks with Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen during a NATO foreign ministers meeting at NATO headquarters Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center in blue suit, shakes hands Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan after a group photo of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, poses with counterparts during a group photo of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and United States Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker arrives for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, right, walks with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio after addressing the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte shake hands after their statements ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, right, and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio address the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, right, and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands after addressing the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio makes statements during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, right, and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio address the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Flags of Alliance members flap in the wind prior to a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Flags of Alliance members flap in the wind prior to a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards his plane at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, April 2, 2025, en route to NATO in Belgium. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 7, 2025--

PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced that it will support EuroSkills Herning 2025, Europe’s largest vocational skills competition, which takes place Sept. 9-13, 2025, in Herning, Denmark. As the Main Skill Sponsor for the Painting and Decorating competition, the company will provide financial support and will also supply SIGMA COATINGS™ paints and PROGOLD™ sundries by PPG.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250407512504/en/

The partnership underscores PPG’s commitment to supporting vocational education and training to shape the workforce of tomorrow. The event will bring together up to 600 young professionals from 33 countries who will compete across 38 skill areas over three days. With the theme “Skilled for a Greener Future,” the competition highlights the vital role of technical and vocational skills in driving sustainability and innovation. Held every two years, EuroSkills provides an important platform to inspire young professionals and showcase industry excellence.

“Vocational education and training are essential for developing a highly skilled workforce and EuroSkills Herning 2025 provides a unique platform to showcase young talent,” said Torben Beck, PPG general manager, Scandinavia and DACH, Architectural Coatings. “At PPG, we recognize that supporting these young professionals is an investment in the future of our industry. We are proud to contribute to their learning journey by providing high-performance coatings that help them hone their skills and prepare for successful careers.”

Participants in the Painting and Decorating competition will be challenged to demonstrate expertise in surface preparation, wallpapering, decorative finishes and color matching. PPG will also support EuroSkills experts, who will assess the competitors' work done using PPG’s premium products, including SigmaCoatings WallPrimer Plus with packaging made from 90% recycled plastic and EU Ecolabel.

PPG’s support of EuroSkills Herning 2025 is part of its broader commitment to investing in education and workforce development. In 2023, PPG and the PPG Foundation announced a $2 million investment to support training programs, curriculum development and career readiness resources for students and educators.

“The growing skills gap in vocational professions requires companies, educators and policymakers to work together to ensure that young people have access to the right resources and training,” said Christian Corlin, chief operating officer, EuroSkills Herning 2025. “Strong industry partnerships are essential to the success of EuroSkills Herning 2025, and we are thrilled to have PPG as a key supporter. Its expertise and high-performance paints and coatings will provide competitors with the tools they need to demonstrate their skills at the highest level. With PPG’s support, we can continue to inspire and prepare young professionals for successful careers in skilled trades.”

To learn more about EuroSkills Herning 2025, visit: https://euroskills2025.com.

PPG’s global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested $18.4 million in 2024, supporting hundreds of organizations across more than 30 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow tomorrow’s STEM innovators and skilled workforce in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more here.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD®

At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

The PPG Logo and We protect and beautify the world are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

Sigma Coatings and ProGold are registered trademarks of PPG Nederland B.V.

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From left: Torben Beck, PPG general manager, Scandinavia and DACH, Architectural Coatings; Kasper Bøgelund, head of competitions, EuroSkills Herning 2025; and Christian Corlin, chief operating officer, EuroSkills Herning 2025, during a visit to the PPG shop in Søborg, Denmark as part of the collaboration agreement signing ceremony.