‘the Trump Summit’: Rubio Credits President For Pushing Nato Allies To Increase Spending

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Secretary of State Marco Rubio dubbed this year’s NATO meeting “the Trump summit” as the alliance prepares to meet President Donald Trump’s demand to increase defense spending.

“I would call this the Trump summit,” said in an exclusive interview with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns on the sidelines of the summit, saying that Trump’s pressure to boost spending in his first term has reinvigorated the group – for the most part.

“The combination of pressure from President Trump in his first administration, and then a full invasion and war in Europe by Vladimir Putin has led now to virtually every country in – every single partner in the NATO alliance, pledging to get to that 5 percent mark, with the exception, unfortunately, of Spain.”

Spain has come under criticism at this year’s summit after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez secured an 11th-hour exception from the defense spending target.

“It’s a big problem,” Rubio said. “I don’t think that the agreement that Spain has reached is sustainable, and frankly it puts them in a very tough spot with regards to their other allies and partners.”

He added that it will be a topic of discussion when leaders meet on Wednesday. Spain’s stance has provided cover for other nations that are eager to wriggle out of the commitment as well.

The influence of Trump, meanwhile, will benefit the alliance, he said.

“If everybody lives up to their commitment, it’s going to be a much stronger alliance with more capable partners,” he said. “[It will] frankly allow the United States to still be a vibrant, strong member of it, the biggest member of it, but also reallocate resources to other parts of the world without taking away from the strength of the alliance.”