Rubio Heads to Sweden NATO Talks and India Visit as Allies Face 3.5% Defense Target
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 20
Rubio Heads to Sweden NATO Talks and India Visit as Allies Face 3.5% Defense Target
11 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 20
May 22-26, Marco Rubio will travel first to Helsingborg for NATO foreign ministers’ talks, then to India for meetings on energy security, trade and defense cooperation.
In Sweden, Rubio is set to press allies on higher defense investment and burden sharing, a central Trump administration demand as NATO members work toward a 3.5% of GDP core defense target.
The Sweden stop also includes talks with the Arctic Seven on shared economic and security interests, widening the agenda beyond NATO burden sharing.
In India, Rubio will visit Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi as Washington and New Delhi try to stabilize ties after U.S. tariffs strained relations and both sides pursue a trade deal.
The trip comes with wider strategic pressure on both legs: European unease over Trump’s NATO stance and India’s concern over the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 40% of its crude oil imports.
As India deepens US defense ties, can it maintain its strategic autonomy within the BRICS alliance?
How will new Arctic rivalries impact global shipping and urgent environmental cooperation with Russia?