US’ Rubio says nation-states must engage, rejects talk of US-Europe rupture

​​​​​​​By Asiye Latife Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that communication among nation-states is essential to managing global challenges, while dismissing claims of a rupture in relations between the US and Europe.

Rubio told Bloomberg that diplomacy and engagement between countries should not be viewed as concessions but as necessary tools to prevent conflict and address shared problems in a changing world order.

His remarks came in response to a question about European leaders engaging with China. Rubio said it is normal for major powers to maintain dialogue, arguing that interaction between states does not contradict cooperation among allies on common interests and threats.

“We expect nation-states to interact with one another. In the end, we expect nation-states to act in their national interest. I don't think that is excluded. That in no way runs counter to our desire to work together on things that we share in common or threats we face in common. But I don't think visiting Beijing or meeting with the Chinese is on the contrary,” he said.

Rubio stressed that it would be “irresponsible” for great powers not to have relationships and talk through things, “and to the extent possible, avoid unnecessary conflict,” adding that while there will be areas they may never agree on, "those are the areas that I hope we can work together on.”

Addressing broader transatlantic relations, Rubio rejected suggestions of a breakdown in ties, pointing to continued military, intelligence and economic cooperation, including the presence of US forces in Europe under NATO commitments.

He said the US-European alliance is undergoing a “readjustment” to reflect evolving global realities, arguing that partnerships must adapt to 21st-century challenges while remaining grounded in shared historical and civilizational ties.

“This alliance has to look different, because the world looks different. This alliance has to be about different things than it's been in the past, because the challenges of the 21st century are different than the challenges of the 20th. The world has changed, and the alliance has to change,” Rubio stressed.

He underscored that the fundamental thing that has to change is "we have to remind ourselves of why it is we have an alliance in the first place.” Calling the alliance not just a military arrangement, or commercial arrangement, he said it is “what holds us together in the first place as an alliance, is our shared civilizational values.”

“The fact that we are all heirs to a common civilization and one we should be very proud of. And only after we recognize that and make that the core of why it is we're allies in the first place, can we then build out all the mechanics of that alliance. Then everything else we do together makes more sense,” he added.