A file picture of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet NATO counterparts following U.S. threats to drag troops and in addition pay his first go to to India following a cold patch between the international locations, it was introduced Tuesday (Could 19, 2026).
The State Division confirmed that Mr. Rubio would take part on Friday (Could 22, 2026) in talks amongst NATO International Ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, which is able to put together for a NATO summit in Turkey in July, anticipated to be attended by President Donald Trump.
The highest U.S. diplomat “will talk about the necessity for elevated defence funding and larger burden sharing within the Alliance,” a State Division assertion stated.
Mr. Trump lately determined to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany regardless of the heightened European issues over Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Mr. Trump has lengthy stated that the US has been shouldering an unfair burden within the Chilly Conflict-era alliance, however his choice got here instantly after fury at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who made remarks essential of Mr. Trump’s conflict with Israel towards Iran.
Mr. Rubio will meet with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary-Common Mark Rutte, the State Division stated.
Mr. Rubio will then head to India, his first go to to the world’s largest democracy since Mr. Trump returned to workplace practically a yr and a half in the past.
U.S. Presidents throughout partisan traces have courted India for many years, however Mr. Trump final yr grew to become upset with India and briefly imposed punishing tariffs.
The rift got here after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to credit score Mr. Trump with ending a brief conflict a yr in the past between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan has assertively curried Mr. Trump’s favour, saying he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and extra lately volunteering as a mediator in ending the Iran conflict.
Vice President J.D. Vance lately visited Pakistan for the Iran talks, and Mr. Trump final week was upbeat on a visit to China, beforehand seen as a reason behind concern that united India and the US.
Unusually for Mr. Rubio, who normally retains a fast tempo, the State Division stated he would go to 4 cities in India.
Along with New Delhi, he’ll go to Agra, website of the world-famous Taj Mahal, in addition to the palace-filled metropolis of Jaipur and the japanese metropolis of Kolkata.
Revealed – Could 20, 2026 01:38 am IST