Rubio spotlight at NATO top diplomat summit

As with the defence ministers' meeting in February, all eyes will be directed by the American representative. Then there was Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and this time is American Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

When Rubios was initially given the role in President Donald Trump's new administration, most Europeans rejoiced. It was viewed as a hot “transaltantist”.

Now, according to NATO diplomats with whom Radio Free Europe has spoken, there is a kind of nervousness. While some say “ai still understands us and the coalition”, they ask how much impact it really has on the American Government and what it means when it comes to Ukraine, Russia and China.

However, two things are clear, followed. Periscope.

Like Hegseth, Rubio will insist on the message that European allies must increase protection costs and have in many days the division of the burden.

And, as in February, allies will hope that the US will reconfirm its commitment to NATO and Article 5 of the treaty, which concerns mutual protection, reports Radio Free Europe.

As the only other NATO meetings before the June summit are informal meetings of foreign ministers to be held in Turkey in mid-May and defence in early June, this week's meeting serves in many ways as general proof for The Hague summit, to be held on 24-26 June.

The purpose of that meeting is clear: Keep the alliance united, significantly increasing defence spending.

Secretary - General NATO, Mark Rutte, is demanding that every ally pledge to spend at least 3.7 percent of gross domestic production for protection as soon as possible and to have regular progress reports.

This initiative aims to calm US President Donald Trump during the summit, but some European allies will hesitate to quickly pledge large expenditures in defence, given that they are facing slow economic growth and increased budget deficit.

Will Ruby again ignore EU diplomacy chief Kaya Callas?

Perhaps the most important thing to observe during the ministerial meeting is the session dedicated to NATO-EU reports, where the European bloc will be represented by foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas.

Rubio ignored Kallas when she visited the US earlier this year and all EU diplomats she talked to. The REL acknowledged that Washington does not view the EU as a serious conversationator.

There is also a lot of tension, especially when it comes to the European Commission's latest defence spending proposal: a possible 150m-euro loan for EU member states to buy weapons, but not from countries outside Europe. The US is privately concerned about any moves it can get out of the game in the event there is an increase in defence spending in Europe.

But the greatest concern, of course, is the deteriorating trade relationship.

Just a day before the NATO summit, the US is expected to impose a 25 per cent fee on all automobile imports -- a move that will hit many countries like Germany. This comes after the existing American tax on European steel and aluminum, to which Brussels plans to counter revenge measures on April 13th.

Will the US increase pressure on Russia?

Another guest at the ministerial meeting is Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andriy Syhbiza. He is expected to provide updated information regarding the situation on the battlefield, but again, Ruby will be the focus of attention.

Will the US increase pressure on Russia in the event ceasefire agreements, in terms of infrastructure and traffic on the Black Sea, are not respected?

Meanwhile, Ukraine's membership in the alliance is not available at the moment, most European allies are interested in at least making sure that American weapons will continue to be sent to Ukraine and that the training mission of NATO for Ukrainian soldiers, NSATU, will continue to operate.

So far, it's all going on like before. There has been no change in the position of American troops on the east wing of NATO.

What has changed, however, is that the US no longer heads the Ukrainian Protection Contact Group, known as the Ramstein Group, which co-ordinates military support for Kiev. The UK has led the latest meeting of the group held in February, and the next meeting, scheduled for 11 April, could be co-led by the UK and France.

London and Paris are also expected to continue working, at least in the margins of the ministerial summit, on a possible security force in Ukraine, in case a permanent ceasefire enters into force.

However, details such as the number of troops, participating states and the currently exact mandate remain unclear.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that working on a new NATO strategy for Russia has stalled. The strategy, which defines how the alliance should engage with Moscow in the future, was meant to be approved at The Hague summit. But Washington has hinted it wants to avoid “of frustration” possible on the way to a final peace agreement and such a strategic document can do just that.

The foreign ministers of four NATO partners from the Asia-Peace Department of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea will also participate in a session with US demand.

While the American administration views Beijing as a rival, its public criticism of China so far has been relatively restrained.

At this session, ministers will be interested in hearing Rubio's views on ways to approach a range of issues related to China.