Rubio says NATO ‘needs to be reimagined,' but expresses confidence it will 'work out'

Описание: (28 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

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Washington, DC - 28 January 2026
(THUMBNAIL: ASSOCIATED PRESS, Washington, DC, 28 January 2026, Scott Applewhite, #26028566168897)
1. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifying before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, (D) New Hampshire:
"When you were a member of this committee, you authored legislation to prevent President Trump from unilaterally leaving NATO, you and Senator Kaine (Tim Kaine, D-Virginia). Do you still believe that the U.S. benefits from NATO?"
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State:
"We do. I mean, the problem, but NATO needs to be reimagined as well in terms of the obligations and this is not new to this president. Multiple presidents have complained about it. I think this president just complains about it louder than other presidents."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, (D) New Hampshire:
"Well, I'm just trying to be clear, get a clear answer on where this administration stands relative to NATO because it's been a very fuzzy message over the last year. And do you agree that we're stronger in confronting China when we do so with like-minded partners?"
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State:
"Yeah, but our like-minded partners have to have capability, and that's been part of the problem is the erosion in European defense capabilities, because they've taken a vast amount of the monies. These are rich countries, and because of the NATO umbrella, it gave them the flexibility to spend a tremendous amount of their revenues on social programs and not on defense. Now, maybe that trend line will begin to change."
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, (D) New Hampshire:
++SHOT CHANGES MID SOUNDBITE++
"Well, it's already begun to change. But part of that strength also comes from the unity with our allies. And to the extent to which that unity is undermined, like the talk about Greenland antagonizing Denmark, then it undermines NATO's ability. And the only people who are excited about that are Vladimir Putin and President Xi."
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State:
"Yeah, well, I would say that I think our alliances in NATO ultimately are something that's going to work out. Our partners understand the importance of the U.S. presence in NATO. Without the US, there is no NATO. And we understand that in order for NATO to be stronger, our partners need to be stronger."
++WHITE FLASH++
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State:
"We may be the richest country in the world, but we don't have unlimited resources. And as we reassign resources...."
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, (D) New Hampshire:
"Which is exactly why we want to have allies and partners to help us as we're looking at conflicts around the world. And when we antagonize our allies and our partners and when we send Canada to do a trade deal with China instead of coming to New Hampshire or the United States, it weakens our ability to confront our adversaries."
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State:
"Yeah, but our allies have to be two things. They have to willing to step up, but they also have to capable of stepping up. And frankly, many of them have not."
STORYLINE:
Testiyfing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed concerns that the Trump administration is undermining the NATO alliance, but also repeated a long-standing complaint that NATO allies need to contribute more to defense spending.







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