NATO focuses on fortifying weak links, says US official at Antalya summit

NATO is intensifying efforts to eliminate vulnerabilities within its ranks, aiming to bolster the alliance’s overall strength, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Speaking upon his arrival in Antalya for an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Rubio emphasized that the robustness of the alliance is fundamentally determined by the resilience of its weakest member, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

“The strength of the alliance is determined by the strength of the weakest link, and we strive to ensure that there are no weak links in NATO,” he stated.

Rubio expressed confidence in NATO’s progress toward this goal, noting that the organization is performing well in fortifying its structure. His remarks come at a time when the alliance faces growing challenges posed by geopolitical shifts and evolving security threats.

In addition to discussing NATO’s internal strengthening, Rubio also highlighted the US administration’s significant military commitments under President Donald Trump. The US leader recently approved a landmark trillion-dollar defence budget aimed at confronting emerging global threats in the 21st century. Rubio further pointed out that Trump has repeatedly emphasized his intention to encourage NATO member states to raise their defence spending to 5 per cent of their GDP, a move aimed at ensuring the collective security of the alliance.

At the Wales summit in September 2014, NATO member states set the goal of increasing military spending to 2 per cent of GDP, a decision driven by the perceived "Russian threat" following Crimea’s reunification with Russia. 

This shift marked a significant response to the evolving security dynamics in Eastern Europe. By the time of the July 2023 summit in Vilnius, the alliance took a further step, declaring that the 2 per cent of GDP target should no longer be viewed as an aspirational figure, but rather as the minimum level of defence expenditure required from all NATO countries.

By Vafa Guliyeva