NATO meeting in Helsingborg

Rubio in Helsingborg: Sweden a fantastic member

Marco Rubio had a lot of good things to say about Sweden when he stood on the press podium in Helsingborg in connection with the big NATO meeting.

– Thank you to this fantastic country for hosting. They have been fantastic new NATO members, truly exemplary allies. It is an honor to be here.

During his speech, Rubio talked about how NATO “must benefit all members”. He did not hide the fact that the Trump administration has been disappointed with certain countries and their investments in the alliance’s defense.

In connection with the big meeting in Helsingborg, Rubio will have a private meeting with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M).

Analysis: Britain faces Swedish double trouble

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is in Helsingborg for the big NATO meeting. What awaits her here is nothing less than double trouble, according to Sky News' Jon Craig.

Cooper's first problem is that the government has now lifted sanctions on certain Russian oil. Many European leaders are therefore angry and experts believe that British imports will now strengthen Vladimir Putin and Russia, according to Craig.

In addition, Donald Trump is still angry with Britain because he feels that the European country is not helping in the Iran war.

Another participant in the meeting is US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ahead of the meeting, he has repeated President Trump's previous message that NATO's European members are contributing too little. TV2's Lise Toft Hessellund says that the meetings in Skåne will be a good opportunity for Europe to give its view on the matter.

– The allies see it as a welcome opportunity to talk about the US's concerns behind closed doors.

Trump has repeatedly hinted that the US could leave the defense alliance, but that is unlikely to happen. This is according to SVT's security commentator Christoffer Wendick. In an analysis, he points out that Europe has important bases, among other things, and that the US makes a lot of money from defense cooperation.