Rubio Defends US Pressure for NATO Spending Hikes

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a joint news conference with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel in Lisbon on Oct. 8, 2026, ending a NATO tour of Iceland, Greece, and Portugal. Allies face a 2035 target of 5% of GDP on defense. Portugal spends just over 2% and plans about 3%. Rubio said each member must be as strong as it can be so the alliance remains a strong deterrent. In Athens he spoke before the Acropolis and said Europe can awaken from its long slumber. Left-rated coverage stressed home budget strains, Rubio's warning that Ukraine fighting since Feb. 24, 2022, could spill into sabotage in NATO countries, strikes that killed 30, and Portugal's conditional Lajes Field access after Spain refused. Right-rated outlets foregrounded Rubio defending the spending push, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accusing members of free-riding and reviewing U.S. forces in Europe, reports that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham may delay a milestone announcement, and Rubio's praise of Germany against countries that are dragging. Rangel called the U.S. relationship fundamental. Rubio said the U.S. will keep trying for a Ukraine settlement but not invest in pointless processes without progress. The path to 5% and the UK timeline stay unresolved.