U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Sweden this week for talks with NATO foreign ministers before heading to India for meetings focused on trade, energy and defence cooperation.
According to the U.S. State Department, Rubio will attend meetings in Helsingborg on 22 May, where discussions are expected to centre on increasing defence spending among NATO allies and strengthening what Washington calls “burden sharing” within the alliance.
The visit comes at a sensitive time for relations between the United States and NATO under President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly criticised European allies for failing to spend enough on defence and has previously threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance altogether.
During his stop in Sweden, Rubio is also expected to meet foreign ministers from the Arctic Seven countries - Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.
Talks will focus on economic cooperation and regional security concerns in the Arctic, an area becoming increasingly important due to rising geopolitical tensions and competition over trade routes and resources.
Tensions between Washington and some European governments have deepened in recent months. Differences emerged after several European countries declined to send naval support to secure the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump’s earlier suggestion that the U.S. should acquire Greenland also caused friction with Denmark.
European leaders have since acknowledged the need for the continent to take greater responsibility for its own defence.
Last year, NATO members agreed new defence spending goals, setting targets of 3.5% of GDP for core military spending and an additional 1.5% for areas such as cybersecurity, logistics and infrastructure.
After Sweden, Rubio will travel to India from 23 to 26 May. His itinerary includes stops in Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi.
The State Department said discussions will focus on energy security, trade ties and defence cooperation between the two countries.
Relations between Washington and New Delhi have become more complicated during Trump’s second term. While Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a close relationship during Trump’s first presidency, tensions grew after the U.S. imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods last year.
Many of those tariffs were later eased, and both countries are now working towards a trade agreement aimed at preventing further economic disputes.
India is also part of the Quad alliance alongside the United States, Japan and Australia.
Japanese media reports suggest Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is expected to visit New Delhi on 26 May for a Quad meeting focused on strengthening supply chains for critical minerals in response to China’s growing influence.
However, the U.S. State Department did not mention any planned Quad meeting in its statement.
Energy security is expected to be a major topic during Rubio’s India visit.
In an April phone call, Trump and Modi stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure. The route is critical for India, with around 40% of the country’s crude oil imports passing through the waterway.
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed aga...
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump...
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of confli...
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central...
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on...
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
An armed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on a Black Sea beach in northern Türkiye on Sunday, prompting a security operation and the controlled detonation of its munitions.
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
A Ukrainian man has been found guilty of carrying out a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after being recruited by a mystery figure known only as "EL Money".
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of conflict, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing it as a major diplomatic success and a victory for peace.
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
A Ukrainian man has been found guilty of carrying out a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after being recruited by a mystery figure known only as "EL Money".
British lawmakers look set to revisit assisted dying in the new parliamentary session after Labour MP Lauren Edwards said she would reintroduce legislation that failed to complete its passage through Parliament earlier this year.
Israel expects to secure new contracts for its air and missile defence systems from European countries within weeks, as governments across the continent continue to strengthen their militaries amid security concerns linked to Russia's war in Ukraine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment