U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to Sweden this week for discussions with NATO foreign ministers, followed by a diplomatic visit to India, the State Department announced Tuesday.
The diplomatic trip comes amid ongoing tensions between the current administration and both NATO allies and India. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened withdrawal from the NATO alliance while also implementing significant tariffs on India.
Rubio’s first stop will be Helsingborg on May 22, where State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said he will “discuss the need for increased defense investment and greater burden sharing in the Alliance.”
During his Sweden visit, the Secretary of State will also hold discussions with representatives from Arctic Seven nations including Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. These talks will focus on “shared economic and security interests,” according to Pigott.
Following the NATO meetings, Rubio will spend May 23 through 26 in India, making stops in Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi. His agenda includes conversations about energy security, trade relationships, and defense cooperation.
The current administration has consistently pushed NATO member countries to increase their contributions to collective military efforts. Tensions have escalated after European nations refused to provide naval support for securing the Strait of Hormuz and following Trump’s previous suggestion to purchase Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
European leadership has acknowledged the need for greater responsibility in regional security matters. NATO member nations established new spending benchmarks last year, targeting 3.5% of GDP for core defense and 1.5% for broader security measures including cybersecurity, infrastructure and logistics.
While Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained positive relations during Trump’s initial presidency, the relationship deteriorated after India faced some of the steepest U.S. tariffs last year. Many of those tariffs have since been reduced, and both nations are currently negotiating a trade agreement to prevent future tariff increases.
India participates in the Quad alliance alongside the United States, Japan and Australia. Japan’s Jiji Press reported that Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi plans to visit New Delhi on May 26 for a Quad meeting focused on strengthening supply chains for critical minerals as a response to China.
The State Department’s announcement did not reference any Quad meeting plans.
During an April phone conversation, Trump and Modi emphasized the importance of maintaining open and secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 40% of India’s crude oil imports.
