UPDATE - US cannot keep subsidizing 'rich' western Europe: Secretary of state

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By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized "rich" Western European nations on Wednesday for underinvesting in their national security, stressing that the US cannot continue to subsidize their defense.

“These are rich countries, especially in Western Europe, they have plenty of money, they should be investing that in their national security and they're not,” Rubio told Fox News in an interview.

He highlighted that some NATO allies spend as little as 1% of their GDP on defense, calling it "unfair" and "unsustainable" for the US to bear the burden.

“NATO is not in jeopardy. The only thing that puts NATO in jeopardy is the fact that we have NATO allies who barely have militaries or whose militaries are not very capable because they've spent 40 years not spending any money on it,” he said.

He emphasized that the US is not asking allies to act independently but to contribute more.

“It's their continent, right? Why should we not be, why is it unreasonable for the United States to ask rich European countries to invest more money in their own national security?” Rubio added.

The US has been pressuring NATO members to boost their security spending.

- Minerals deal between US, Ukraine nears completion

A minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine is "very close to the finish line," said Rubio.

He suggested that the US offer that requires Kyiv to cede half of its revenues from minerals, gas and oil infrastructure is a "good" and "important," deal.

He emphasized the Trump administration's commitment to ending the war. "We still want to end this war. That's the important thing the president has made very clear, he campaigned on it," Rubio stated.

Despite media reports about tension between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rubio dismissed concerns about serious friction between the leaders, noting that Trump spoke with Zelenskyy immediately after his telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"What the president was irritated by, and rightfully so, was this argument that somehow we haven't talked to Ukraine," he said. "To say we are not engaged with them is just not accurate."

When questioned about Russia's sincerity in ending the conflict, Rubio acknowledged uncertainty but explained the administration's approach.

"We told them do you want to end the war or continue? If you want to end the war, we can talk about what it would take to end it from their perspective. If you want to continue on the war, tell us now," he said.

Rubio added that US diplomats are scheduled to meet their Russian counterparts to discuss potential war-ending scenarios, noting: "If what they insist on is unrealistic, we know they are not real about it."

- US against any 'coercive' change in status of Taiwan

Regarding China, Rubio outlined a three-pronged strategy focusing on building domestic manufacturing capacity, maintaining a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region and developing adequate military capabilities.

"We have allowed way too many industries to fall into the hands of the Chinese. Everything from rarely earth minerals to pharmaceuticals, we have to have domestic capacity," Rubio emphasized.

The Trump administration's tariff policy aims to counter China's global manufacturing network, he said. "People say only put tariffs on China. That's not enough because China has factories in other countries all over the world."

On Taiwan, the official reaffirmed the US position: "We are against any forced, compelled, coercive change in the status of Taiwan. That's been our position since the late 1970s."

- Migrants make U-turn

Rubio highlighted success in Latin America on immigration enforcement, crediting Trump's leadership with dramatically reducing border crossings.

"The people coming here realize this isn't Joe Biden. You are not just going to be able to come in, claim asylum and stay forever," he said. "We are literally in some of these countries ... have people doing U-turns on their way here.”

Rubio praised Panama for becoming "the first country in Latin America ... to get out of the Belt and Road Initiative," describing this as a positive development for US interests in the region.

The Belt and Road Initiative is China's global infrastructure development strategy.