U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to skip next week’s high-level NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, according to two U.S. officials, an unusually conspicuous absence for America’s top diplomat at one of the alliance’s most important annual gatherings.
Instead, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will represent Washington, one official said, stressing that the plans have not yet been formally announced and could still shift before the December 3 meeting.
The Rubio decision comes at a moment of intense geopolitical pressure, with U.S., Ukrainian and European officials racing to resolve sharp differences over President Donald Trump’s controversial peace proposal aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A Rare No-Show From a U.S. Secretary of State
NATO foreign ministers usually meet twice a year in Brussels, and it is exceptionally rare for a US secretary of state not to attend. The United States is widely regarded as the backbone of the alliance and its strategic direction.
The last near-absence took place in 2017, when then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson initially signaled he would miss the spring meeting, prompting NATO to shift the date to accommodate him.
This time, it is not anticipated that NATO will change its schedule.
A State Department spokesperson declined to address Rubio’s expected absence directly, but insisted the alliance remains strong.
“The NATO alliance has been completely revitalized under this administration,” the spokesperson said. “The historic foreign policy achievements in just ten months speak for themselves.”
NATO officials declined to comment on Rubio’s intentions, citing member attendance as a matter for the discretion of each government. European diplomats, however, said while some ministers skip meetings from time to time, missing the United States secretary of state is “notable,” given global tensions.
Ukraine Concerns Worsen as Peace Plan Leaks
The timing of Rubio’s expected no-show has amplified concerns within Europe.
The leaked 28-point U.S. proposal to end the Ukraine-Russia war — published in several media outlets on November 18 — has sent an alarm through Ukrainian and European officials, who feel the draft weighs too heavily in favor of the interests of the Kremlin. Privately, several diplomats complain that the U.S. is negotiating “in a vacuum,” sidelining key allies.
Those concerns mounted on Friday when Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, stepped down just hours after anti-corruption investigators searched his home — the latest sign of political turbulence inside Kyiv as the war grinds on.
Rubio’s absence, at such a pivotal moment for Ukraine’s diplomacy, threatens to fuel further doubts about Washington’s commitment to European security in the long run.
Trump’s Mixed Messages on NATO Continue to Reverberate
The Trump administration has long projected an unpredictable stance toward NATO. While Trump reaffirmed support for the alliance during a leaders’ summit in June, he has repeatedly questioned NATO’s relevance and threatened to pull the U.S. out unless allies dramatically increase their defense spending.
Landau, Rubio’s replacement at the Brussels meeting, has also raised eyebrows. In June, he posted — then quickly deleted — a comment on X questioning whether NATO was needed in the modern era.
European diplomats say this fueled unease about U.S. intentions, even as Washington continues to insist publicly that the alliance remains central to its foreign policy.
A Pivotal Moment for Transatlantic Cohesion
The Brussels meeting is expected to be dominated by discussions on Ukraine, spending on defense, and NATO’s long-term posture toward Russia and China. Diplomats from several European capitals privately expressed surprise that Rubio might miss the event, calling it “unhelpful” at a moment requiring maximum coordination.
As Ukraine’s battlefield position deteriorates and political instability rises in Kyiv, allied unity becomes ever more crucial.
Meanwhile, members of the U.S. Congress are demanding more transparency from the administration.
“We are demanding that the minister and the government give the nation a detailed report,” said a US lawmaker, reflecting growing scrutiny over Washington’s role in the Ukraine peace talks. For now, the State Department insists that America’s commitment to NATO remains unchanged. But Rubio’s absence – if it holds – is already sparking questions across Europe about the direction of US foreign policy, at a moment when the alliance faces one of its most dangerous geopolitical tests in decades.
