U.S. Secretary of State Rubio's absence from the NATO foreign ministers' meeting has drawn attention.

NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Brussels, Rubio Did Not Attend

Secretary of State Absent, First in Over Two Decades.

The Trump Administration's Message: European Defense, Don't Rely on the United States.

According to currently available public information, Secretary of State Rubio indeed did not attend the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Brussels from December 3 to 4, 2025, and was instead represented by the Deputy Secretary of State. This absence has attracted widespread attention mainly because it breaks a long-standing convention of the U.S. top diplomat.

Rubio's rare absence is not simply an adjustment of diplomatic schedule; the signal behind it is thought-provoking, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

* Adjustment of Diplomatic Priorities and Subtle Changes in Attitude Toward NATO, No Longer Assuming the Core Leadership Role of NATO. Rubio's absence, with the Deputy Secretary of State Landry replacing him, who had previously expressed doubts about the necessity of NATO on social media, may have deepened European concerns about the reliability of U.S. commitments.

* Worsening Trust Gaps Among Transatlantic Allies

Europe Marginalized: While the U.S. holds intensive talks with Russia and Ukraine separately, some European diplomats have already complained about being excluded from the peace process. The absence of the U.S. Secretary of State could be seen by Europe as a clear signal that the U.S. is disregarding the opinions of its allies on major security issues and pursuing unilateralism.

As the leading country of NATO, the absence of the U.S. top diplomat at a meeting discussing core European security crises inevitably raises renewed doubts about the reliability of U.S. security commitments.

In summary, Secretary of State Rubio's absence at the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting can be seen as a specific embodiment of the Trump administration's "America First" foreign policy approach. It reflects the U.S.'s intention to adjust its role within the transatlantic alliance, focusing more on direct, bilateral diplomatic leverage rather than multilateral coordination through NATO.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1850535511897088/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.