Secretary Rubio to attend NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels to discuss Ukraine, China and Hague Summit plans

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Brussels, Belgium, from April 2 to April 4 to attend a NATO foreign ministers meeting, the U.S. Department of State said at a press briefing on April 1.

The trip will focus on “security priorities for the alliance, including increased allied defense investment and securing lasting peace in Ukraine,” the State Department spokesperson said. The secretary also plans to raise the “shared threat of China to the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific alliances” and discuss preparations for a Hague Summit this summer.

Why it matters: NATO ministers’ meetings set alliance-level priorities and shape collective diplomatic and military responses. The briefing framed Rubio’s travel as part of a broader U.S. push to strengthen allied investment in defense and to coordinate approaches on China and support for Ukraine.

Details from the briefing: The spokesperson said the secretary “will attend the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting to discuss security priorities for the alliance, including increased allied defense investment and securing lasting peace in Ukraine.” The Hague Summit was explicitly cited as a topic for planning discussions. No agenda text, formal declarations or bilateral meeting schedules were released at the briefing.

What the State Department did not say: The department did not provide further specifics about meetings with individual ministers, nor did it release an itinerary beyond the April 2–4 dates. The briefing did not announce new funding or specific commitments tied to the trip.

Looking ahead: The State Department said it would provide more details during its next briefing and as the trip proceeds in Brussels.