US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday to coordinate on global security issues and NATO reforms. The two diplomats “reiterated the shared US-Germany commitment to upholding safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring Iran never develops or obtains a nuclear weapon,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. The high-level talks in Washington follow recent diplomatic efforts to finalise a peace deal between the US and Iran.
NATO summit preparations
The diplomats reviewed the upcoming NATO Summit, scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara. Both officials emphasised the “importance of burden shifting” within the organisation — a strategy intended to ensure European partners assume primary responsibility for their own conventional defence. Rubio and Wadephul also reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for achieving a “durable peace” between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting comes amid heightened transatlantic coordination ahead of the Ankara summit, where US President Trump is expected to attend alongside other NATO leaders [citation needed]. Türkiye, as the host nation, is preparing to welcome delegates from alliance member states and guest countries, with extensive security measures already in place [citation needed].