NATO ministers consult Rubio on troop withdrawals and arms sales pause
Diplomatic talks in Helsingborg aim to address abrupt US troop cuts from Germany and stalled weapons sales to Taiwan, following tensions over the war on Iran.
NATO European members are scheduled to consult US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Helsingborg, Sweden, on Friday regarding Washington’s recent troop withdrawals from Germany and a pause in arms sales to Taiwan. The diplomatic engagement aims to mitigate President Donald Trump’s anger regarding Europe’s response to the ongoing US war on Iran and to prepare for an upcoming NATO summit in Ankara in July. The meeting follows the abrupt announcement by the Trump administration of a 5,000-troop withdrawal from Germany, which has raised concerns among allies about US reliability amidst tensions with Russia.
Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated during a congressional hearing on Thursday that arms sales to Taiwan have been placed on "pause" to ensure sufficient munitions for US operations in Iran, specifically referencing "Epic Fury". Cao confirmed the stalled $14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan, noting that foreign military sales will resume when the administration deems necessary. This decision underscores the prioritisation of current military engagements over existing international defence contracts.
The 77-year-old alliance was rattled this month when Washington abruptly announced it was withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany after a spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. While the Trump administration had long warned it would pull out forces from Europe to focus on other threats, a lack of coordination has heightened concern over Washington's reliability in the face of a menacing Russia.
One of the goals in Helsingborg is to see whether relations have stabilised ahead of the Ankara summit, according to a European diplomat. The meeting of alliance foreign ministers comes after the US leader lashed out at Europe over its response to his war on Iran and threatened he could consider quitting NATO.
The outcome of the Helsingborg talks remains uncertain, with no defined timeline for the resumption of arms sales to Taiwan or guarantees that the alliance fractures have been fully repaired. The July summit in Ankara will serve as the next critical test of US-European cohesion as the alliance navigates these heightened geopolitical tensions.
