Tillerson meets EU, NATO leaders despite doubts over his future

BRUSSELS — US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson meets his European Union ( EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) counterparts in Brussels Tuesday to shore up ties, with allies insisting he still plays a “key role” despite doubts over his future.

Mr. Tillerson will hold talks over lunch with EU foreign ministers and the bloc’s diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini, before a two-day NATO meeting set to focus on North Korea’s missile program and concerns over perceived hostility from Russia.

But his visit comes against a difficult backdrop — a rift with President Donald J. Trump has led to reports he could be replaced within weeks, calling into question his authority to speak for Washington.

And there are major differences between Washington and Europe on a number of key policy areas, notably the Iran nuclear deal which Mr. Trump has vehemently condemned but which Brussels is desperate to preserve.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Monday it was vital international powers worked together to tackle the North Korean crisis, after Pyongyang tested a long-range missile it said could hit anywhere in the continental United States.

“Last week’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile showed that all allied nations could be within range,” Mr. Stoltenberg said on Monday.

“The whole world needs to apply maximum pressure on North Korea in order to achieve a peacefully negotiated solution.”

He said the 29- member alliance had been “clear and consistent” in its condemnation of Pyongyang’s weapons program, which has seen the reclusive state carry out a series of ballistic missile and nuclear tests in defiance of international sanctions. The EU has been ramping up economic sanctions on the North in a bid to force it to the negotiating table — but with no success so far.

But if the US and EU can present a unified front on North Korea, the deal with Iran to end the Islamic republic’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions is more problematic.

Mr. Trump has slammed the historic 2015 accord, agreed after years of painstaking talks between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, China, Germany and Russia, as a bad deal and threatened to pull America out.

European powers are keen to maintain the deal and Mr. Mogherini last month traveled to Washington to lobby US lawmakers not to withdraw from the agreement.

“Preserving the nuclear deal with Iran and its full implementation is a key security priority for Europe,” Mr. Mogherini said on Friday.

Mr. Tillerson’s Brussels visit comes at the start of a European tour taking in Paris and Vienna for the 57-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Anonymous White House leaks have suggested Mr. Tillerson could be out of a job within weeks and even while denying this on Friday, the American President reminded him: “I call the final shots.”

On Monday Mr. Stoltenberg gave his backing to Mr. Tillerson’s efforts in tackling the North Korean crisis — an issue where Mr. Trump has publicly criticized his top diplomat, saying he was “wasting his time” pursuing contacts with Pyongyang.

“Secretary Tillerson has played a key role, both in sending the message of deterrence, the unity and the resolve of the whole alliance, but also when it comes to the need for continuing to work for a peaceful solution,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.