Marco Rubio Sweden NATO remarks May 22

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Helsingborg, Sweden, on May 22 for a NATO foreign ministers meeting after remarks a day earlier in Miami fueled online claims that he had told allies they were “freeloading” over Iran. The public record available on May 22 shows Rubio did criticize some NATO members over their stance during the Iran war, but the verified wording in official and reported accounts differs from the phrasing circulating on social media. State Department materials show Rubio’s Sweden trip was announced on May 19 as part of talks on defense spending and burden sharing in the alliance. Reuters and other outlets reported that, before departing for Sweden on May 21, Rubio said President Donald Trump was “very disappointed” with allies that had not allowed the United States to use bases on their territory during the war with Iran. ### What can be verified about Rubio’s Sweden trip? The State Department said on May 19 that Rubio would travel to Helsingborg on May 22 for the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting, where he would discuss “increased defense investment” and “greater burden sharing in the Alliance.” The same statement said he would also meet Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. (state.gov) Rubio appeared with Rutte in Helsingborg on May 22, according to remarks posted by the State Department. In those remarks, Rubio thanked Sweden for hosting and called the country a “great new member of NATO,” while Rutte said ministers would discuss defense spending, Ukraine and Iran, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. (state.gov) ### What did Rubio actually say before leaving for Sweden? Reuters reported from Helsingborg on May 22 that Rubio told reporters in Miami before departure that Trump was “very disappointed” in alliance members that had not allowed the U.S. to use bases on their territory during the Iran war. Reuters quoted Rubio as singling out Spain and saying, “You have countries like Spain denying us the use of these bases - well then why are you in NATO? (state.gov) That’s a very fair question.” The Reuters account also said Rubio added that “other countries in NATO have been very helpful” and that the issue needed discussion. That reporting matches the broader theme described in the State Department’s travel notice, which referred to burden sharing, but it does not independently verify the exact “freeloading” wording used in some posts. (al-monitor.com) ### Did Rubio say allies were “doing nothing on Iran”? NATO officials, as quoted by Reuters, said the 32-member alliance had not been asked to take part in the Iran war. Reuters reported that many members had still honored commitments to allow U.S. forces to use their airspace and bases. (al-monitor.com) Rutte said in public remarks on May 22 that Iran and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz would be on the ministers’ agenda, and that colleagues had told him it was “not acceptable” for freedom of navigation to be disrupted. Rubio’s own published remarks alongside Rutte, as surfaced in the State Department posting, did not include the “freeloading” line referenced in social media posts. (al-monitor.com) ### Where did the “LEAVE NATO” reaction come from? Posts on X on May 22 linked Rubio’s Sweden trip and his criticism of allies to calls from some users to “leave NATO,” according to the social-media material cited in the source briefings. Those posts show an online reaction, not an official U.S. policy announcement or a formal NATO step. (state.gov) Reuters reported that Trump has said he was considering withdrawing from the alliance and had questioned whether Washington was bound to honor NATO’s mutual defense pact. Reuters also reported that European officials were expected to use the Sweden meeting to stress they were ready to help with freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when conditions permit. (al-monitor.com) ### What happens next? The State Department said Rubio is due in India from May 23 to May 26, with stops in Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi. NATO ministers in Helsingborg were scheduled to continue discussions on defense spending, Ukraine, Iran and preparations for the alliance’s Ankara summit, according to State Department and NATO-linked remarks released on May 22. (state.gov) (al-monitor.com)