Germany's Wadephul reaffirms NATO commitment before talks with Rubio

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has underscored the importance of NATO's collective security guarantees ahead of talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expected to focus on burden-sharing within the alliance as Washington calls on Europeans to step up their support.

"Our Euro-Atlantic security depends crucially on us continuing to stand together within NATO as resolutely as we have done so far," Wadephul said on Monday before departing on a multi-day trip to North and South America.

He said Russia does not dare to attack a NATO member, noting that the alliance's "collective deterrence" was working.

The meeting in Washington on Monday afternoon is expected to centre on a new burden-sharing arrangement within NATO, as well as on how to achieve stable, long-term support for Ukraine - both central topics for next week's NATO summit in Ankara.

While some US allies have questioned whether US President Donald Trump will reaffirm Washington's support for NATO at the summit in Turkey, Wadephul said he was "firmly convinced that the United States will continue its security commitment to Europe."

Trump has repeatedly accused allies, including Germany, Britain and Italy, of not contributing enough to the alliance, pointing out that the US has spent enormous sums on protecting Europe.

Tensions over allied defence commitments escalated following the start of the Iran war, with Trump outraged by European partners' refusal to support the US-Israeli campaign. The US president warned that if allies are unwilling to help the United States with relatively minor matters, Washington may also say "no" in future.

Before the start of his trip, Wadephul stressed that Germany and the US share the aim of ensuring that the framework agreement reached by Washington and Tehran leads to a lasting resolution of the Iran conflict. 

The preliminary agreement, signed earlier this month, has already shown signs of strain, with the US and Iran both launching attacks despite a ceasefire. Iran has since reclaimed control over shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Wadephul criticized what he called Iran's "risky strategy" in the waterway, saying it shows how security and economic policy are intertwined.

As trade disputes and crises continue to disrupt global supply chains, he said it is increasingly necessary for countries to build broader and more resilient economic bases. 

Against this backdrop, Wadephul will travel on to Paraguay after he meets with Rubio for a Mercosur summit in the capital Asunción on Tuesday.

The European Union and the South American Mercosur states of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay formed a vast new free trade zone in May. The agreement is intended to boost the exchange of goods and services through the gradual reduction of trade barriers and tariffs.