Rubio demands NATO pony up, dismisses 'hysteria' over US role under Trump

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said NATO nations must provide a "realistic pathway" to ramp up their defense spending to hit a 5% threshold – including the U.S.

"I understand there's domestic politics, after decades of building up vast social safety nets that maybe don't want to take away from that and invest more in national security," Rubio said while speaking at a NATO foreign ministers event in Brussels. "But the events of the last few years… full-scale ground war in the heart of Europe as a reminder that hard power is still necessary as a deterrent.

"We do want to leave here with an understanding that we are on a pathway, a realistic pathway to every single one of the members committee, and fulfilling a promise to reach up to 5% of spending," Rubio said, adding that "the Uni...