国际观察｜美国务卿罕见缺席北约外长会 跨大西洋裂痕进一步暴露

Core Points - The absence of U.S. Secretary of State Rubio at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting highlights a growing transatlantic rift and reflects U.S. indifference towards NATO and European allies [1][2] - NATO is facing internal divisions regarding military aid to Ukraine, particularly in the context of the U.S. reducing direct military assistance [3][4] Group 1: U.S. Absence and Its Implications - Rubio's absence is noted as a rare occurrence, marking the first time in over 20 years that a U.S. Secretary of State has missed a NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting [2] - Analysts suggest that this absence may exacerbate European allies' feelings of being marginalized and increase distrust towards the U.S. [2][5] Group 2: Military Aid to Ukraine - The NATO meeting focused on maintaining military support for Ukraine amid significant cuts in U.S. direct military aid, with NATO launching a "Ukraine Priority Needs List" mechanism [3] - Over two-thirds of NATO members have made commitments through this mechanism, with expectations of reaching nearly $5 billion by year-end, while Ukraine requires approximately €83 billion (around $97 billion) in military support over the next two years [3] Group 3: European Defense Autonomy - In light of uncertainties regarding U.S. security commitments, European nations are increasingly seeking defense autonomy, with the EU initiating a €150 billion financial support tool for defense procurement [4] - The U.S. has expressed dissatisfaction with this shift, as it may impact the sales of American defense products, leading to tensions during the NATO meeting [4][5]