NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that the sweeping new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump do not breach the alliance’s treaties, including the provision encouraging economic collaboration among member nations.
His comments came during a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, where concerns were raised about the potential impact of the tariffs on Article 2 of the NATO treaty.
The tariff dispute centers on the recent measures imposed by Trump, which have rattled global markets and sparked fears of a broader trade conflict. When questioned about whether these tariffs violated the treaty’s commitment to eliminate conflicts in international economic policies, Rutte replied, “I don’t think this is in breach of Article Two. No, I don’t think so. We have seen in the past many examples of differences of view, of fights over tariffs. This has happened before, without that being in violation of Article 2.”
Rutte also emphasized that the issue of trade disputes falls outside his core mandate. “My role is deeply focusing on the defense of NATO territory, and that is why I'm not commenting on other things than directly related to the defense of NATO,” he added.
In addition to addressing the tariff issue, Rutte underscored that NATO’s primary long-term concern remains the threat posed by Russia. “We realize that there is one long-term and enduring, unpleasantly enduring threat, and that is Russia, and that is what our focus has to be about,” he said.
During the same meeting, NATO allies heard a “clear message” from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirming the United States’ commitment to the alliance. Rubio’s remarks also called on Europe and Canada to take on more responsibility for shared security and to continue increasing defense spending.
The discussion highlights the complex interplay between economic policies and defense commitments within NATO, as member states navigate the challenges posed by divergent national interests while maintaining a united front against common security threats.
Efforts to end the Iran conflict were at an impasse on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump unhappy wit...
Speaking during a White House state dinner for the British monarch’s state visit to Washington on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that t...
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran t...
Elon Musk took the stand on Tuesday (28 April) at a high-stakes trial over the future of OpenAI, casting his lawsu...
Police arrested an 89-year-old suspected of wounding five people in two separate gun attacks in Athens ...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a four-day tour on Tuesday, visiting Pakistan, Oman and Russia, expressing satisfaction with discussions focused on bilateral ties and regional developments.
The Iron Dome has long symbolised Israeli security, reshaping modern warfare with its reported “90% success rate”. But as regional tensions surge in April 2026, questions are growing over whether the world’s most battle-tested air defence system can remain sustainable.
The U.S. and the European Union are set to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday to establish a partnership on the procurement and production of critical minerals, the U.S. State Department confirmed late on Thursday.
The Iranian missions in London and Vienna strongly condemned the remarks by the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas on the imposition of further sanctions on Tehran as a “highway of hypocrisy,” amid the Israeli-U.S. war on the Islamic Republic.
Disney+ has debuted Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language, a new collection of animated musical sequences reimagined in American Sign Language (ASL), released on 27 April to mark National Deaf History Month.
Market reaction to DeepSeek’s preview of its next-generation artificial intelligence model has been relatively subdued, in sharp contrast to the global shock triggered by its breakthrough releases last year.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war. Tehran said the U.S. should remove obstacles to a deal, including its blockade of Iran's ports. Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in St Petersburg for talks.
Adidas shares rose after Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe delivered a historic performance at the London Marathon on Sunday (26 April), becoming the first athlete to run an official marathon in under two hours.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
Police arrested an 89-year-old suspected of wounding five people in two separate gun attacks in Athens on Tuesday, the Greek Citizens' Protection Ministry said on Tuesday (28 April).
The White House is reviewing security protocols this week following Saturday's shooting at a Washington hotel where President Donald Trump and top officials were attending a dinner, the administration said on Monday.
King Charles III told the U.S. Congress that despite rising tensions in Europe and the Middle East, the United Kingdom and United States remain united in defending democracy, even as divisions grow over the war with Iran.
British lawmakers on Tuesday voted against launching an inquiry into whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled Parliament over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S.
Five million children across Sudan’s Darfur region are facing extreme deprivation, the United Nations children’s agency said on Tuesday, issuing an emergency warning as the civil war in the country enters its fourth year.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment