US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has decided not to attend the annual NATO Foreign Ministers’ Summit in Brussels, marking the first absence of the US top diplomat from this critical meeting since 1999. This decision to send Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau instead comes at a particularly fraught moment for the transatlantic alliance, raising concerns among European allies about Washington’s commitment and the controversial nature of a US-backed peace proposal for Ukraine.
Absence Amid Ukraine Peace Plan Controversy
The US Secretary of State’s rare absence from the key ministerial gathering is highly unusual, given the summit’s central focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine. The meeting is taking place just as high-stakes negotiations are unfolding in Moscow between US envoys and Russian officials regarding a new plan to end the conflict.
The timing amplifies existing European anxiety over a US-drafted peace plan for Ukraine. The initial draft of the plan, which emerged from the Trump administration, reportedly included provisions that were deemed highly favorable to Russia, such as:
* Limiting future NATO expansion, effectively ruling out Ukraine’s membership.
* Capping the size of the Ukrainian military.
* Potentially recognizing Russian territorial gains.
European allies have been working to revise the document, wary of being coerced into accepting a deal too advantageous to Russian interests and feeling cut out of the primary diplomatic process. Rubio’s decision to skip the summit at this delicate moment risks reinforcing the perception that the US is prioritizing its direct, separate dialogue with Moscow over the consensus and concerns of the NATO alliance.
Official Rationale and Allied Concerns
A senior State Department official, speaking anonymously, attempted to downplay the significance of the absence, stating that Secretary Rubio “has already attended dozens of meetings with NATO allies, and it would be completely impractical to expect him at every meeting.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also attempted to brush off concerns, noting Rubio’s busy schedule handling the Ukraine situation and “many other issues which are on his plate.”
However, diplomatic observers view the non-attendance as sending a negative signal, particularly following recent administration statements and proposals that have questioned the utility and future of the alliance. Deputy Secretary Landau’s role will be to address these concerns, reassure allies of the US commitment to the alliance, and press partners to deliver on defense spending targets, including the commitment to invest 5% of GDP on defense. The foreign ministers meeting is intended to solidify unity ahead of the upcoming 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, a task made more challenging by the conspicuous absence of the most influential member’s top diplomat.
Footage Charlie Kirk has been shot
Charlie Kirk has been shot
