U.S. tariffs don't violate NATO treaty, says NATO's Rutte

Rutte was responding to a reporter's question that referred to article 2 in the NATO treaty which states: "(NATO allies) will seek to eliminate conflict in their international economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between any or all of them."

That does sound as if there actually is a provision against randomly starting unwarranted trade wars between members. And I could imagine that if it was another country lashing out like this, they'd get a stern warning. But the country lashing out is the most important one in NATO, the founding member.

Even as everyone is trying to emancipate from the US right now, Rutte behaved in an extremely friendly and appeasing way toward Rubio this week. Apparently the idea is to keep on the US's good side for as long as necessary and possible.