“We will be friendly, constructive and clear,” he tells TT.
At the same time, Rubio and President Trump continue to criticize other NATO countries for not wanting to support the United States in the war against Iran, for example to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Before leaving for the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Helsingborg, Rubio said that President Trump “is not asking them to deploy fighter jets, but they don’t want to do anything.”
“It has upset us a lot,” Rubio said, according to AFP.
On Friday, Rubio will have a private meeting with Kristersson and Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) on the sidelines of the NATO meeting.
Reasonable conclusion
“We will tell you what Sweden is doing. We want the US to take a detailed look at all the reinforcements we are making to our defense capabilities,” says the Prime Minister.
But also how important we think it is that we have a very orderly process when Europe takes on a greater part of the responsibility.
It is reasonable for the US to expect greater European responsibility, according to Kristersson. But the US must also keep other NATO countries informed of its long-term plans, the Prime Minister points out. This must not be put to an end by hasty, unannounced decisions to withdraw US forces from Europe.
Excluded from contributing
Malmer Stenergard wants to raise the importance of continued support for Ukraine with Rubio.
She expects Marco Rubio to raise the issue in the Strait of Hormuz. About 40 countries, led by France and Britain, are holding talks on how they could help keep shipping going through the strait. But one condition has been that the war must first be over.
The Foreign Minister describes it as out of the question that Sweden would contribute more than diplomacy if fighting is still ongoing.
