NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday the new US administration was « fully committed » to the Western military alliance despite strong criticism from President Donald Trump.
« I am absolutely certain that President Trump and the new US administration will be fully committed to NATO and to the transatlantic partnership, » Stoltenberg said in Kuwait City.
The NATO chief also said he had received assurances from both Trump and his Defence Secretary James Mattis of continued US support for the alliance.
« I spoke with President Trump a few days after he was elected in November and he conveyed a very strong message to me that he personally was very committed to NATO and the transatlantic partnership, » Stoltenberg said.
He said he also spoke with Mattis on Monday « who expressed strong support to NATO ».
« I am absolutely certain that the new US administration … will support strengthening NATO, » Stoltenberg said in Kuwait where he inaugurated a first NATO centre in the Gulf region.
The NATO chief said he totally agreed with Trump and Mattis that European financial contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation must increase.
« European allies have to spend more, have to invest more on defence… We have seen some progress but there is a long way to go, » Stoltenberg said.
The Pentagon said on Monday that Mattis reassured NATO allies that Washington had an « unshakeable commitment » to the military alliance, despite Trump having previously deriding the organisation as « obsolete ».
