Washington, D.C., April 29, 2025 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone call today with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, reaffirming the enduring partnership between the United States and the Netherlands ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit. The conversation, described in an official readout by State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, highlighted key areas of mutual strategic interest, including defense procurement, NATO readiness, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, trade relations, and the safeguarding of critical technologies.
Secretary Rubio extended his gratitude to the Netherlands for hosting the forthcoming NATO Summit, set to bring together alliance members amid intensifying global security concerns. He underscored the importance of collective defense and praised the Dutch government’s commitment to modernizing its military by procuring U.S.-origin defense systems. The Secretary emphasized that as European nations continue to rearm in response to growing geopolitical threats, U.S. defense firms must remain integral partners in the process—not sidelined in favor of domestic or non-NATO alternatives.
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In alignment with President Donald Trump’s recent statements, Secretary Rubio reiterated the administration’s call for all NATO allies to increase their defense spending to at least five percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The proposal marks a significant escalation from the previous two percent benchmark and reflects Washington’s push for greater burden-sharing across the transatlantic alliance.
On the international security front, both leaders discussed strategies to bring an end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Secretary Rubio and Minister Veldkamp expressed their shared determination to maintain pressure on Moscow while supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, reconstruction, and long-term integration with Western institutions. The conversation reportedly included deliberations on military aid, diplomatic avenues, and coordinated sanctions enforcement.
The two officials also explored opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and address structural imbalances. Secretary Rubio stressed the need to create a fair and mutually beneficial economic relationship while safeguarding advanced technologies from reaching authoritarian regimes and strategic adversaries. This reflects a growing emphasis in U.S. foreign policy on the intersection of economic security and national defense.
The call is seen as part of a broader effort by the Biden-Trump administration to deepen ties with key European allies as global power dynamics shift. With the NATO Summit on the horizon and the Russia-Ukraine conflict far from resolved, today’s dialogue underscores Washington’s desire to fortify unity among transatlantic partners while advancing its own strategic interests.
No further details of the call were disclosed publicly.
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