Mattis hails Nato as a fundamental bedrock
FORGING TIES: US defence secretary has consistently voiced support for Nato and has been tougher on Russia than his boss
BRUSSELS: US Defence Secretary James Mattis hailed Nato as the “fundamental bedrock” of transatlantic security as he sought to reassure allies Wednesday about President Donald Trump’s commitment to the alliance.
Mattis, who has been on the job less than a month, spoke as a scandal over White House officials’ ties to Russia gripped the Trump presidency and claimed the job of the national security adviser.
“The alliance remains a fundamental bedrock for the United States and for all the transatlantic community, bonded as we are together,” Mattis said as he met his counterparts in Brussels for the first time.
“As President Trump has stated, he has strong support for Nato,” said Mattis, a former Marine general who has himself previously served with Nato.
Mattis however stressed that the Trump administration, like the Obama administration before it, expected Nato allies to boost their defence spending.
“It’s a fair demand that all who benefit from the best defence in the world carry their proportionate share of the necessary cost to defend freedom,” he added.
The 28-member organization is trying to portray unity after Trump’s previous comments that the alliance was “obsolete.”
Since his inauguration, Trump has taken a more orthodox stance on Nato and reaffirmed long-standing US commitment to the alliance.
Mattis has consistently voiced support for Nato and has been tougher on Russia than his boss, whose views worry the alliance’s eastern European member states in particular.
Mattis meanwhile praised the alliance for its enduring help for the United States in Afghanistan. “This has been the most successful alliance in military history,” he said.
Despite the message of unity, Mattis is still set to push the rest of the 28-nation group to meet their increased military spending pledges, despite many in Europe facing hard economic times.