Washington, Sept. 25, 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the 2025 Transatlantic Dinner in New York with foreign ministers from EU and NATO member states, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, as well as the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
The State Department stressed that the dinner underlined the importance of the transatlantic partnership in preserving peace, strengthening prosperity, and enhancing defense cooperation. Rubio highlighted NATO allies’ commitments to raise defense spending and the need for continued diplomatic engagement to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
A significant part of the discussions focused on confronting Chinese malign influence and advancing joint cooperation to secure stability in the Middle East – particularly by preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The readout also pointed to the President’s achievement in setting Armenia and Azerbaijan “on a path toward a lasting peace,” noting the presence of the two countries’ foreign ministers at the table as a sign of Washington’s active role in shaping regional diplomacy.
